Willis Jackson - Headed And Gutted (1974) [vinyl]

Willis "Gator" Jackson's series of albums for Muse during the 1970s helped keep alive the soulful, tough tenor tradition of Illinois Jacquet, Gene Ammons, and (later on) Houston Person. For this particular set, the participation of guitarist Pat Martino made the date more notable than it might have been. With Mickey Tucker on keyboards, electric bassist Bob Cranshaw, drummer Freddie Waits, and Richard Landrum and Sonny Morgan on percussion, Jackson still sounds very much in his prime, particularly on the exciting "Gator Whale." The other selections tend to emphasize ballads "My One and Only Love" and funky jazz "The Way We Were". ~ Scott Yanow, AMG.

Headed And Gutted is basically a one-tracker. That comes in the form of the title track that is a real nice, mid-tempo funky Jazz piece. It has a driving rhythm and Jackson’s soloing over the top. The rest of the album is more straight-ahead Jazz splitting between the slow and mellow Blue Velvet and The Way We Were, and the more upbeat Miss Ann and Gator Whale. ~ Soulstrut.com.

Muse Records, MR 5048, 1974

Recorded 16^th May, 1974

Musicians:

Willis Jackson - Tenor Saxophone

Mickey Tucker - Piano, Electric Piano, Organ

Pat Martino - Guitar

Bob Cranshaw - Bass

Freddie Waits - Drums

Sonny Morgan - Percussion

Richard Landrum - Congas

Tracks:

A1. Headed And Gutted {Sonny Phillips} (5:21)

A2. Blue Velvet {Bernie Wayne, Lee Morris} (8:16)

A3. Miss Ann [Willis' Wife] {Willis Jackson} (6:28)

B1. The Way We Were {Marvin Hamlisch} (6:49)

B2. Gator Whale {Sonny Phillips} (6:06)

B3. My One And Only Love {Guy Wood, Robert Mellin} (5:44)

Credits:

Producer, Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Recording Engineer - Paul Goodman [RCA]

Liner Notes - Ralph Berton