Houston Person - Houston Express (1971) [re-rip]

As period soul-jazz goes, this is considerably above the average. It's funky, but not in the bland crossover sense; there's a sense of jazz ensemble discipline to the arrangements, but it's still R&B-based enough to groove to. Cecil Bridgewater (trumpet), Billy Butler (guitar), Bernard Purdie (drums), and Motown bassist Gerry Jemmott are among the more notable contributors to this 1971 session. ~ by Richie Unterberger, AMG.

There are some great players on this album. The electric piano really kicks in on a number of tunes and the brass section adds further highlights, but as usual Houston’s tone is very undeniable and full. Enjoy!

Prestige Records, PR 10017, 1971

Recorded 8^th & 9^th April, 1971 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Cecil Bridgewater - Trumpet (#A4-B2)

Harold "Money" Johnson - Trumpet (#A1-A3,B3)

Thad Jones - Trumpet (#A1-A3,B3)

Ernie Royal - Trumpet (#A1-A3,B3)

Garnett Brown - Trombone (#A1-A3,B3)

Jack Jeffers - Trombone (#A1-A3,B3)

Harold Vick - Tenor Sax, Flute (#A1-A3,B3)

Babe Clarke - Baritone Sax (#A1-A3,B3), Tenor Sax (#A4-B2)

Paul Griffin - Piano, Electric Piano (#A1-A3,B3)

Jimmy Watson - Organ

Ernie Hayes - Organ, Electric Piano (#A4-B2)

Billy Butler - Guitar

Jerry Jemmott - Electric Bass

Bernard Purdie - Drums

Buddy Caldwell - Congas

Tracks:

A1. Young Gifted And Black {Nina Simone, Weldon Irvine} (5:17)

A2. The Houston Express {Horace Ott} (5:50)

A3. Enjoy {Horace Ott} (4:57)

A4. [For God's Sake] Give More Power To The People {Eugene Record} (3:42)

B1. Chains Of Love {Ahmet Nugetre} (7:33)

B2. Just My Imagination {Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong} (5:34)

B3. Lift Every Voice {James Weldon Johnson, John Rosamond Johnson} (5:40)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Arranger, Conductor - Horace Ott (#A1-A3,B3)

Art Direction, Cover Art - Tony Lane

Back Cover Photo - Al Johnson

Note:
Ahmet Nugetre aka Ahmet Ertegün [Founder Atlantic Records]

John Patton - Along Came John (1963) [vinyl>flac]

Along Came John is the debut album by American organist John Patton, recorded in 1963 and released on the Blue Note label. ~ Wiki.

An excellent John Patton album and one that's got a two-tenor lineup for an extra-heavy soul jazz sound! Fred Jackson and Harold Vick are on the dual reeds, and Grant Green brings up the rear on guitar. Over it all is John Patton's searing organ, and Ben Dixon grooves nicely on drums. Most of the tracks are by Patton and Dixon, and titles include "Gee Gee", "Pig Foots", "Spiffy Diffy", "Along Came John", and the classic modal groover "The Silver Meter". Great stuff and one of Patton's best albums! ~ Dusty Groove Inc.

These original compositions may not all be memorable, but the band's interaction, improvisation, and solos are. Tenor saxophonists Fred Jackson and Harold Vick provide good support, as well, but the show belongs to Patton, Green, and Dixon, who once again prove they are one of the finest soul-jazz combos of their era. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG.

Blue Note, BST 84130, 1963

Recorded 5^th April, 1963 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

John Patton - Organ

Harold Vick - Tenor Saxophone

Fred Jackson - Tenor Saxophone

Grant Green - Guitar

Ben Dixon - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. The Silver Meter {Ben Dixon} (5:40)

A2. I'll Never Be Free {Bennie Benjamin, George David Weiss} (5:02)

A3. Spiffy Diffy {Ben Dixon} (5:59)

B1. Along Came John {John Patton} (6:01)

B2. Gee Gee {John Patton} (6:01)

B3. Pig Foots {Ben Dixon} (5:42)

Credits:

Producer - Alfred Lion

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Artwork [Cover Design] - Reid Miles

Photography [Cover] - Francis Wolff

Liner Notes - Joe Goldberg