"We're gonna cook a
little bit for you - is that O.K.?" With that Charles Earland celebrates
his birthday on stage - and it IS a celebration! Horns blaze, the rhythm
pounds, and you can't forget that vital organ. It’s aptly titled – this music
lives.
"The Burning
Spirit" sets off at full charge, horns shouting the angular theme with the
power of a big band. Eric Alexander runs deep, with tangy tone and lines that
run forever. Charles likes what he hears; he comps strong behind - strong
enough to drown at times. No such problem with Jim Rotundi: his tone is loud
and broad, mellow like a flugelhorn and sharp as a tack. Bob Devos snakes
everywhere: he darts long like Pat Martino, with a cleaner tone. And it's time
for The Mighty Burner. With deep smoke and happy screams, he cuts a path with
weaving fingers. Repetition is used to great effect: the hand pumps, the heat
rises. The crowd screams as the chords climb higher; Charles says “Praise the
Lord!” and the crowd affirms. The spirit is willing, and so is the listener.
The crowd is silenced, and
Charles goes churchy. The organ is solemn, full of vibrato - and then a shout.
Alexander starts "If Only For One Night" with that slow groove - a
midnight dance if there ever was one. Charles starts low and tender, shouts,
then the organ screams a while. This gets Alexander going, and he sounds a bit
like Turrentine as he does a loud swagger. Earland takes a three-note theme,
varies it deliciously, and goes loud for a rousing finish. “You know, your
hands are going on that CD,” he says.
The audience starts off
"The Burner's Magic," with a great rhythm part from Devos. Alexander
screams it hot; like before, it's hard to hear him at times. Rotundi is an
architect: his solo builds ideas into a unified whole, and the audience loves
it. Devos gets in some late-night blues. Charles starts with restraint: a
four-note pattern becomes a roll, and quickly gains muscle. Greg Rockingham has
a moment: his simple drum solo is the essence of tough. He and Alexander take
the honors here, and Charles doesn’t mind sharing the spotlight. There’s enough
of the Burner's magic to go around.
The highlights come at the
end, with two cuts taken from Charles' first album. "Black Talk"
opens with a shout of "C'mon guitar!" Devos responds with the ringing
blues, similar to Melvin Sparks on the 1970 version. Alexander is once more on
target: he trills high, and screeches some rusty honks. Charles reprises his
original solo, with some fiery variations. The crowd loves it - and lets us
know. The end, with tough rhythm, lots of hands, and a slow burn from Charles,
is a keeper.
It is topped by "More
today from Yesterday", which is cheered as it opens – the fans remember.
It’s a little shorter than the original, and Earland has the only solo: you
know what happens. The crowd is there from the beginning; they sound like they
could be dancing. Earland rolls warm, as the horns punch the riff. It sounds
like the original solo, but faster, and a heart as big as the room. Now THIS is
a shout! He takes a long, lush descent - down the Spiral Staircase? And the
horns come back. The applause goes on forever – as well it should. Happy
Birthday, Charles Earland. And many more! ~ by Staff, AAJ.
Cannonball Records, CBD 27107,
1999
Recorded 24th May,
1997 At The DuSable Museum Of African-American History, Chicago, Illinois
Musicians:
Charles Earland - Organ
[Hammond B-3]
Jim Rotundi - Trumpet
Eric Alexander - Tenor
Saxophone
Bob Devos - Guitar
Greg Rockingham - Drums
Tracks:
1. The Burning Spirit
{Charles Earland} (9:43)
2. If Only For One Night
{Russel Brenda Gordon} (6:03)
3. The Burner's Magic
{Charles Earland} (11:17)
4. Black Talk {Charles
Earland} (10:44)
5. Explosion {Eric Alexander}
(7:45)
6. I Love You More Today Than
Yesterday {Patrick Upton} (8:22)
Credits:
Producer - Charles Earland,
Ron Levy
Coordinator & Event
Producer - Tracy Williams
Stage Manager - Lionel
Slaughter
Recording Engineer - Phil
Klum (Pegasus Recording Co.)
Mixing & Editing - Gary
Kahn, Ron Levy, Charles Earland
Mastering - The Master
Cutting Room, NYC
Photos - Paul Natkin, Bill
Brown
Graphic Design - Tollefon Studios, Inc.
