Sonny Phillips - I Concentrate On You (1978) [re-rip]

This is the second LP by organist Sonny Phillips on Muse Records from 1977. Phillips is heard playing a range of keyboard instruments, predominately the organ but at times and in particular on the album's title track he lays down some masterful piano work. He is joined by quite a stellar array of players including Virgil Jones on trumpet, Eddie McFadden on guitar, Lawrence Killian on congas and percussion, Charlie Persip on drums, Mervin Bronson on bass and John Stubblefield on tenor saxophone. The tunes chosen for the album range from a number of jazz standards and some more contemporary compositions; included are two of Phillips' own compositions. Phillips although considered a junior amongst his fellow organists clearly displays his own manner and style of playing, which in many ways cannot be aligned to any major influence. His ability to write and play piano sets him outside the core of the modern jazz organists that maintained popularity throughout the 60's and 70's. Overall the music comes across as very melodic and all players harmonise and interact seamlessly. This is enhanced by Houston Person as producer and the resulting tracks are captured by the masterful skills of Rudy van Gelder as the engineer. Recommended.

Muse Records, MR 5157, 1978

Recorded 9^th November, 1977 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Sonny Phillips - Keyboards

Virgil Jones - Trumpet

John Stubblefield - Tenor Saxophone

Eddie McFadden - Guitar

Mervin Bronson - Bass

Charlie Persip - Drums

Lawrence Killian - Congas, Percussion

Tracks:

A1. Free Like The Wind {Sonny Phillips} (6:28)

A2. The Greatest Love Of All {Michael Masser, Linda Creed} (2:53)

A3. Falling In Love With Love {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (7:28)

B1. Hard Times {Paul Mitchell, George V. Johnson, Jr.} (7:02)

B2. Day By Day {Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn} (5:51)

B3. I Concentrate On You {Cole Porter} (5:06)

Credits:

Producer - Houston Person

Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Cover Design & Photograph - Ron Warwell

Liner Notes - Tony Outhwaite

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - For Lovers (1959-69) [vinyl]

A marvellous compilation of great soul jazz standards played by the talented organist Johnny “Hammond” Smith taken from some of his classic New Jazz and Prestige sides spanning 1959 through to 1969. He is joined by an amazing and diverse cast of players: Thornel Schwartz, Freddie McCoy, Houston Person, Eddie McFadden, Rusty Bryant, Wally Richardson, Earl Edwards, Ray Barretto, George Tucker, Leo Stevens, Wendell Marshall, to name a few, Enjoy!

Prestige Records, PRST 7777, 1970

Tracklisting:

A1. Bye Bye Blackbird {Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson} (4:30)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Thornel Schwartz - Guitar

George Tucker - Bass

Leo Stevens - Drums

Recorded 4^th November, 1959 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - That Good Feelin'

New Jazz [NJLP 8229]

A2. Because You Left Me {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (5:27)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Freddie McCoy - Vibraphone

Eddie McFadden - Guitar

Wendell Marshall - Bass

Leo Stevens - Drums

Recorded 12^th May, 1961 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Stimulation

Prestige Records [PRLP 7203]

A3. On A Clear Day {Alan Jay Lerner, Burton Lane} (4:20)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Otis Sutton - Alto Saxophone

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Eddie McFadden - Guitar

Leo Stevens - Drums

Recorded 4^th January, 1966 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Byrdie Green - Stringer Meets The Golden Thrush

Prestige Records [PR 7464]

A4. A Portrait Of Jenny {Russell Robinson, Gordon Burdge} (2:21)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

George Tucker - Bass

Art Taylor - Drums

Ray Barretto - Congas

Recorded 22^nd April, 1960 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Talk That Talk

New Jazz [NJLP 8241]

B1. Sad Eyes {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (4:50)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Freddie McCoy - Vibraphone

Eddie McFadden - Guitar

Wendell Marshall - Bass

Leo Stevens - Drums

Recorded 12^th May, 1961 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Opus De Funk

Prestige Records [PR 7420]

B2. All Soul {Curtis Lewis} (4:17)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Rusty Bryant - Tenor, Alto Saxophone, Varitone

Wally Richardson - Guitar

Bob Bushnell - Electric Bass

Bernard Purdie - Drums

Recorded 19^th May, 1969 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Soul Talk

Prestige Records [PR 7681]

B3. There Is No Greater Love {Isham Jones, Marty Symes} (5:30)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Earl Edwards - Tenor Saxophone

Floyd Smith - Guitar

John Harris - Drums

Recorded 7^th May, 1965 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - The Stinger

Prestige Records [PR 7408]

B4. An Affair To Remember {Harry Warren, Leo McCarey, Harold Adamson} (2:33)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

George Tucker - Bass

Art Taylor - Drums

Ray Barretto - Congas

Recorded 22^nd April, 1960 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Talk That Talk

New Jazz [NJLP 8241]

Don Patterson - Why Not... (1978) [vinyl>flac]

Later work from Don Patterson -- but a record that still shows him in fine fine form! The tunes are all long and spacious -- no gimmicks, just straight ahead soul jazz, in that beautiful back-to-basics mode that Muse was using with Charles Earland around the same time. The group's a quintet -- bigger than usual for Patterson -- with Don on the Hammond, plus Bootsie Barnes on tenor, Eddie McFadden on guitar, Virgil Jones on trumpet, and Idris Muhammad on drums. Titles include "Aries", "Why Not", "Three Miles Out", and "Freddie Tooks Jr". © Dusty Groove America, Inc.

Don was born in Columbus, Ohio, July 22, 1936. He’s now living in Philadelphia, a city that is a mecca for artists, as well as a stronghold for organist Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Trudy Pitts, just to name a few. “Fats” Waller in the late 1930's was one of the first to use the organ as a jazz instrument. This is the fourth Don Patterson album on Muse Records. Don Patterson is not only a master organist, but also a talented compose. There are three of his originals on this album. He uses the melodic, harmonic and rhythmic lines in their proper colors. Tonal colors are important when playing or mastering the organ. ~ rappamelo.com.

Don Patterson is among my top five favourite organists. Never heard a bad recording of his. I always found him the closest to Horace Silver of all organists, especially as a composer. I think he inspired Sonny Stitt to some of his best playing. I like all the Muse sessions. The fourth Muse "Why Not" is nice, I always have a cassette of it in the car, with a nice Horace Silver vibe in the heads. ~ Mike Weil.

Don is the MAN! Another giant we lost too soon. He's really not on enough recordings, either. Have you got the Muse dates? Those are killer! ~ Jim Alfredson.

Muse Records, MR 5148, 1978

Recorded 26^th January, 1978 at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Don Patterson - Organ

Bootsi Barnes - Tenor Saxophone

Virgil Jones - Trumpet

Eddie McFadden - Guitar

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Why Not {Houston Person} (11:39)

A2. Aries {Don Patterson} (8:12)

B1. Dem New York Dues {Don Patterson} (8:02)

B2. Three Miles Out {Bootsi Barnes} (5:23)

B3. Freddie Tooks Jr. {Don Patterson} (6:36)

Credits:

Producer - Houston Person

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Art Direction and Cover Photo - Hal Wilson

Liner Notes - Samir Ali Sadiq, WRTI FM, Philadelphia, PA

Johnny "Hammond" Smith with Lem Winchester - Gettin' The Message (1960)

Organist Johnny "Hammond" Smith's fourth album as a leader, 1961's Gettin' the Message, pairs him with vibraphonist Lem Winchester; Smith and Winchester recorded together fairly often around this period, and the rather unique combination of mellow vibes (an instrument most often associated with cool jazz and Milt Jackson's dignified work with the Modern Jazz Quartet) and funky organ (then rising in popularity, along with what would soon be called soul-jazz) is an interesting blend of styles. The two trade solos in front of a standard hard bop rhythm section that hogs little of the listener's attention, but unfortunately never rises much beyond a mild simmer. While this is fine for tunes like the mellow opener, "Dementia," songs like "Lid Flippin'" and even that hoary old "Swanee River" sound like they could stand to be goosed along a bit; there's a big difference between cool and cold. Aside from that flaw, however, this is a solidly entertaining and texturally intriguing album. ~ by Stewart Mason, AMG.

Prestige Records, PR 7217, 1960

Recorded 14^th October, 1960 at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Lem Winchester - Vibraphone

Eddie McFadden - Guitar

Wendell Marshall - Bass

Bill Erskine - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Swanee River {Traditional} (8:54)

A2. Just Say So Long {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (4:00)

A3. Lid Flippin' {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (5:14)

B1. Gettin' The Message {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (7:12)

B2. Princess {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (5:28)

B3. Dementia {Johnny Burke, Erroll Garner} (5:18)

Credits:

Supervisor - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder

Liner Notes - Sidney Falco

Johnny (Hammond) Smith with Lem Winchester, Prestige PRLP 7217 - Johnny (Hammond) Smith has perhaps his best LP effort to date here. The formidable jazz organist has always been a swinger of the first rank, but on this set he also shows first-class showmanship and taste. The addition of the late Lem Winchester adds a touch of contemplation which gives the instrumental sound distinctiveness – much like a funky Modern Jazz Quartet. The album is neatly divided into a variety of moods with “Swanee River,” “Gettin’ the Message” and “Princess” among the top tracks. ~ Billboard Magazine (May 12, 1962, page 24)