Willis Jackson - Swivel Hips (1968) [re-rip]

Swivel Hips; Music to party by, exercise to or swing along with, low and inspirational sounds to help elevate your spirits and move your body. Sounds to be played over the vacuum cleaner as you clean up the pad the morning after the party; sounds to remind the head as it clears the pad that was a party in the first place. Swivel Hips is a party by itself. Extracts from Liner Notes by Linda Solomon (January 1969).

Great stuff! Like the rest of his late 60's Prestige recordings, this is a lively session with a good late 60's funky jazz sound that widen's Gator's range past the usual tenor/organ bag of his early 60's records. He plays tenor and his trademark Gator horn on this one, and he's backed by Jackie Ivory on organ and Bill Jennings on guitar. The tracks are long, with a stretched out groove, and include "Swivel Hips", "Y'Understand Me", and "Florence Of Arabia". Tough LP to find, too! © Dusty Groove America, Inc.

Prestige Records, PRST 7602, 1968

Recorded 9^th September, 1968 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Personnel:

Willis Jackson - Tenor Saxophone, Gator Horn (#B2)

Jackie Ivory - Organ

Bill Jennings - Guitar

Ben Tucker - Bass, Electric Bass

Jerry Potter - Drums

Ralph Dorsey - Conga

Track Listing:

A1. Swivel Hips {Willis Jackson} (6:55)

A2. In A Mellow Tone {Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler} (8:55)

A3. Win, Lose Or Draw {Willis Jackson} (3:56)

B1. Y’Understand Me {Willis Jackson} (9:04)

B2. By The Time I Get To Phoenix {Jimmy Webb, Burt Bacharach} (6:05)

B3. Florence Of Arabia {Howard Roberts} (7:07)

Credits:

Supervisor - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Photo - Don Schlitten
Liner Notes - Linda Solomon (January 1969)

Eric Kloss - Life Force (1967) [vinyl>flac]

Much of this music is unconventional, avant-garde by the standards of anyone reared in the structural tradition of 12-bar blues, 16- and 32-bar pop standards, and infinite variations thereon. Here, other structures and idioms are freely borrowed and explored, and the listener can never be sure what avenue the boys will ramble down next. But experiment, free experiment, has ever been the soul of jazz (as of the Life Force itself, according to its admirers). At 18, Eric Kloss is a worthy representative of both conceptions, and a welcome newcomer to the ranks of those select pros who can usually be counted on for something fresh and exciting in almost any vein they choose. ~ Extract from Liner Notes by Ralph Berton.

Prestige Records, PRST 7535, 1968

Recorded 18^th September, 1967

Musicians:

Eric Kloss - Alto Sax (#A2,B1,B3), Tenor Sax (#A1,A3,B2)

Jimmy Owens - Trumpet, Flugelhorn (except #B1)

Pat Martino - Guitar

Ben Tucker - Bass

Alan Dawson - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Soul Daddy {Charles Austin} (3:55)

A2. You're Turning My Dreams Around {Eric Kloss} (4:54)

A3. Life Force {Eric Kloss} (11:23)

B1. Nocturno {Bud Shank} (6:37)

B2. St. Thomas {Sonny Rollins} (5:23)

B3. My Heart Is In The Highlands {Eric Kloss} (8:28)

Credits:

Producer - Don Schlitten

Recording Engineer - Richard Alderson

Design - Don Schlitten

Artwork - Irving Riggs

Liner Notes - Ralph Berton (Jan. 1968)

The Soulful Piano Of Junior Mance

Junior Mance is one of those players who truly has been underated through the years.  People commonly make the mistake of confusing underated with underexposed - there is a huge difference.  Mance has had quite an incredible career, playing with some of jazzes elite, yet his skill as a player has always been overlooked.

As a fan of the Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis & Johnny Griffin quintet, I can tell you that the main ingredient of their sound was Mance's soulful and groovy playing.  No matter what gets thrown at him, JM has the ability to filter it and give us something that is undeniably rhythmic.

This was his first trio album for the Jazzland label, and a really nice showcase of tunes.  Mance strings a wonderfully upbeat theme throughout, and we get that classic groove which is so representative of the early 60's.  There is a real potpourri of songs on 'Soulful Piano' - gospel, blues, pop and jazz standards.  This combined with Junior Mance's inimitable style, keeps the entire side fresh and interesting.  Thomas and Tucker blend in perfectly and give the support needed to help Mance shine.

This was ripped from a NM record.  Only a handful of blemishes are audible, and the tonal quality is superb.  Ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC... enjoy!!!