Willis Jackson - Ya Understand Me? (1980) [vinyl]

Willis plays in a well-balanced, full, warm, almost fleshy tone. He chooses three blues and two ballads and the records owes its success to the inclusion of Richard "Groove" Holmes an accomplished organ player and a perfect soloist and sideman. The two other younger musicians Steve Giordano and Roger Lee Humphrey supply a varied and swinging backing. Overall the album is landmark, even in the career of so prolific a musician as Willis Jackson. ~ Extract from Liner Notes by Bernard Niquet.

With "Groove" Holmes on organ duties, and some tart tenor from Jackson. ~ by Ron Wynn, AMG.

This album should get far more attention than the one-liner review above. The music is taken from a live date, later in Willis' career, but there seems no stopping to the power of his big tenor sound. Equally Richard "Groove" Holmes is right at home alongside the "Gator". Enjoy!

Muse Records, MR 5316, 1980

Digitally Recorded 26^th January, 1980, Live At Chateauneuf du Pape, France

Musicians:

Willis "Gator" Jackson - Tenor Saxophone

Richard "Groove" Holmes - Hammond Organ

Steve Giordano - Guitar

Roger Lee Humphrey - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Ya Understand Me? {Herb Abramson, Ahmet Ertegun, Jesse Stone} (7:34)

A2. Body And Soul {Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour} (6:34)

A3. My One And Only Love {Robert Mellin, Guy Wood} (6:26)

B1. The Head Tune {Willis Jackson} (8:59)

B2. More {Keith Newell, Nino Oliviero, Riz Ortolani} (9:11)

Credits:

Recording Engineer - Gerhard Lehner

Cover Photo - Clarence Eastmond

Cover Design - Lisa Emmons

Art Direction - Ron Warwell

Liner Notes - Todd Barkan

Alternate Release: Black and Blue [33.810 WE 312] France