Willis Jackson - Gator's Groove (1968) [vinyl>flac]

The sound of Willis Jackson is one that is steeped in tradition. It is a sound that brings to mind the glorious era of big-toned tenormen; Dexter Gordon, Illinois Jacquet, Wardell Grey, Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt. Those men frequently worked in partnerships and there are places on this LP where one wishes for another horn man for one of those friendly duels. Willis used to be known as "Gaitor tail" and I can remember "partying down" while listening to Willis burn on the tune of that name. When Willis later turned to jazz and formed his organ combo he had more hits. Willis Jackson, Bill Jennings, Jackie Ivory, Jerry Potter and Richard Landrum - I thank you. Thank you for bringing us a music that has stood the test of time and in your hands still sounds new and refreshing. ~ Extract from Liner Notes by Ed Love.

Prestige Records, PRST 7648, 1969

Recorded 11^th Nov., 1968 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Willis Jackson - Tenor Saxophone, Gatorhorn (#A2,B2)

Jackie Ivory - Organ [Hammond B-3]

Bill Jennings - Guitar

Jerry Potter - Drums

Richie "Pablo" Landrum - Conga, Bongos

Tracks:

A1. Brother Ray {Ray Barretto} (4:11)

A2. A Day In The Life Of A Fool {Carl Sigman, Luiz Bonfá} (6:27)

A3. This Is The Way I Feel {Willis Jackson} (9:42)

B1. Blue Jays {Bill Jennings, Jackie Ivory, Willis Jackson} (7:17)

B2. Stolen Sweets {Wild Bill Davis, Dickie Thompson} (5:37)

B3. Long Tall Dexter {Dexter Gordon} (7:03)

Credits:

Supervision - Bob Porter

Recording, Mastering Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Liner Notes - Ed Love (March 1969)

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)

Willis Jackson - Gatorade (1971) [vinyl>flac]

The music on this obscure LP was not released until 1982 and quickly disappeared. Tenor saxophonist Willis Jackson plays funky jazz that is very much of the period with organist Carl Wilson, guitarist Joe "Boogaloo" Jones, drummer Jerry Potter and Buddy Caldwell on conga. Jackson performs the current pop tunes "Hey Jude" and "The Long and Winding Road," plus a pair of blues (including his "Pow") and a couple of originals. Fun but not overly substantial music. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

This is yet another non substantial appraisal from our often dionysian Scott.

This is his twenty-fifth LP for Prestige. Willis's music has changed little through the years: his bluesy, hard swinging sound has served him (and his fame) quite well. The music played here is representative of Willis at his best. "Good Bread Alley" is danceable funk while "Ivy" is an attractive 32-bar, minor-key line. "Pow" and Gatorade" are blues. Look for a quote of "Anything Goes" in the former and some stop-time breaks à la Lester Young in the latter. ~ Extract from Liner Notes by Phil Schaap, WBGO-FM, Newark, N.J.

Prestige Records, MPP 2516, 1982

Recorded August, 1971 at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Willis Jackson - Tenor Saxophone

Carl Wilson - Organ

Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones - Guitar

Jerry Potter - Drums

Buddy Caldwell - Conga

Track Listing:

A1. Good Bread Alley {Teddy McRae, Charlie Singleton} (7:32)

A2. Hey Jude {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (4:22)

A3. Ivy {Hoagy Carmichael} (5:56)

B1. Pow! {Willis Jackson} (6:05)

B2. The Long And Winding Road {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (5:08)

B3. Gatorade {Willis Jackson} (7:48)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Remastering - Gary Hobish, 1982 (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley)

Art Direction - Phil Carroll

Photography - Al Johnson