A sweet little groover from guitarist Jimmy Ponder -- a surprisingly satisfying record that features Ponder soloing out over some tight funky backings that almost sound like the best of the larger group sessions on Kudu or Groove Merchant. Jimmy's playing a sweet hollow body that gives him a tone that's a bit like O'Donnel Levy -- warm and chromatic, with single notes picked out in a tight progression that has a lot more jazz than you'd expect for the session at the time. One cut does have some vocals from Jimmy, but the rest is instrumental -- with tracks that include "So In Love", "Quintessence", "Bro James", and "Easy". Dusty Groove.
ABC Impulse! AS-9327, 1977
Recorded at Sound Ideas, New
York, N.Y. and
ABC Recording Studios, Los
Angeles, California
Musicians:
Jimmy Ponder - Guitar, Vocals
(#A1)
Albert Prince - Electric
Piano (#A1,B3), Organ (#A2,A3,B1), Clavinet (#A4), Piano (#B2)
Sonny Burke - Clavinet
(#A1,B1), Piano (#A2), ARP String Ensemble (#B1)
Cedric Lawson, Michael
Boddicker - Synthesizer (#B2)
Chris White - Bass
(#A3,A4,B2)
James Jamerson, Sr. - Bass
(#A1,B3)
Scott Edwards - Bass (#A2,B1)
Victor Jones - Drums
(#A1-A4,B2,B3)
James Gadson - Drums (#B1)
Paulinho Da Costa - Conga Drums (#A1,A2,A4), Percussion (#A2,B2), Bongo
Drums (#B1)
Stacy Edwards - Percussion
(#A3)
+
Strings (#A1,A3,B3)
Arranger, Conductor - Johnny
Pate
Concertmaster - Charles Veal
Tracks:
A1. If You Need Someone To
Love {Jimmy Ponder} (6:10)
A2. Going Back To Country
Living {Bell, Creed} (5:18)
A3. Easy {Jimmy Ponder}
(4:02)
A4. Bro' James {Jimmy Ponder}
(5:20)
B1. White Room {Bruce, Brown}
(6:10)
B2. Quintessence {Jimmy
Ponder} (7:02)
B3. So In Love {Jimmy Ponder} (5:47)
Total Time: 39:49
Credits:
Producer - Esmond Edwards
Recording & Mixing
Engineer - Barney Perkins
Recording Engineer - Skip
Juried
Collage Design - John Van
Hamersveld
Photography - Chris Callis
Art Direction - Earl Klasky
