A well sought out jazz-funk
title from blue note. Although most of this album is Gene on his piano, this
album brings out Gene's talent with the ARP and Minimoog Synthesizers. One
listen to his cover of sly stone's "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey" and
you'll become a definite believer! Boy, does this cut blaze a trail of hard
driving synth funk! The MiniMoog bass line is all over this one, as Gene fills
the top off with some squealy ARP Odyssey/Pro soloist overlays. A killer funk
ride classic. Then there's "Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong", a buttery
smooth, slow grinding funk love jam that will get your juices flowing on the
dance floor! The Moog bass kicks up and down, and side to side, while the high
synth notes make love to the listeners ear. Great synth playing all around from
gene and good background vocals from the session players, too. Also check out
the eerie, spacey prelude at the start of the album, it's a sonic statement! ~
fonkay, RYM.
Blue Note, BN-LA313-G, 1974
Blue Note/EMI, TOCJ-50511, 2012
Recorded 13th August,
1974 At The Village Recorder, Los Angeles, California
Personnel:
Gene Harris - Keyboards,
Vocals (#B2), Arranger (#7)
Keg Johnson - Trombone,
Background Vocals
George Bohanon - Trombone
Oscar Brashear - Trumpet
Sidney Muldrow - French Horn
Ernie Watts - Reeds
Jerry Peters - Keyboards,
Background Vocals
John Rowin - Guitar
David T. Walker - Guitar
Chuck Rainey - Electric Bass
Harvey Mason - Drums,
Arranger (#11)
Jim Shifflett - Unknown
Instrument
Vocalists:
Annesther
Julia (Tillman) Waters
Luther Waters
Lynn Mack
Maxine (Johnson) Waters
Oren Waters
Trisha Chamberlain
Tracks:
01. Prelude {Gene Harris}
(1:41)
02. Summer [The First Time]
{Bobby Goldsboro} (3:21)
03. Rebato Summer {Jerry
Peters} (0:35)
04. I Remember Summer {Jerry
Peters} (2:03)
05. Don't Call Me Nigger,
Whitey {Sylvester Stewart} (3:44)
06. Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong
{Jerry Peters} (3:10)
07. My Roots {Arr. Gene
Harris, J.K. Abernathy} (4:20)
08. Green River {John
Fogerty} (3:05)
09. Beginnings {Robert Lamm}
(5:54)
10. Feeling You, Feeling Me
Too! {Alex Brown, Monk Higgins} (1:59)
11. Higga-Boom {Arr. Harvey
Mason, Jerry Peters, Harvey Mason} (6:00)
12. Love Talkin' {Jerry
Peters} (4:49)
Credits:
Producer, Recording, Mixing,
Mastering Engineer - Jim Shifflett
Producer - Jerry Peters, Keg
Johnson
Executive-Producer - George
Butler
Recording Engineer - Gilmar
Fortis
Mastering Engineer - Bill
Lazerus
Production Assistance -
Harvey Mason, John Rowin, Charlotte Politte
Art Direction, Cover
Illustration - Bob Cato
Photography - Kenny Dorr
This album is a magical
balance between psychedelic laid back california inspired acid jazz sounds
scapes and the greasy soul of a mid-century (last century) juke joint. A
pastiche of professional music with heart and creativity. No other album on
blue note or by Harris sounds like this. A fine artistic statement by Harris
who seemed to be at his peak in the mid-70s. ~ freqazoidiac, RYM.
