Johnny Lytle - Good Vibes (1981) [vinyl 24/48]

One for KingCake that was missing from the Muse blog.


Review by Craig Lytle, amg:
The ever-gregarious Johnny Lytle never cared too much for categorizing his music; he just loved to play all kinds, and this album is one of those outings. If he feels a beat or melody, he just goes with it. This can be witnessed on "Aaron's Theme," awhere the vibes master just palpitates his way over the groove. His rendition of the Miles Davis classic "So What" sets the mood for an uptown jazz scene, as Lytle's mallets gently patter the bars of the vibraphone. His steady rhythm is polished by the precise chords and solo of pianist Neal Creque. The Ohioan adds his own flavor to the Peabo Bryson-penned "Turn the Hands of Time." His buoyant take on the pop standard "New York, New York" illuminates with every stroke of the vibraphone, augmented by a bouncy rhythm. Lytle's cool approach to "After Supper," a mellow blues number, is contrasted by Houston Person's wailing saxophone.


So What
Turn The Hands Of Time
New York, New York
Didn't We
After Supper
Aaron's Theme

Houston Person (tenor saxophone) Johnny Lytle (vibraphone) Neal Creque (piano) David Braham (synthesizer) Melvin Sparks (guitar) Jimmy Lewis (bass) Idris Muhammad (drums) Ralph Dorsey (percussion)
NYC, October 8, 1981

Johnny Lytle - Everything Must Change

Johnny Lytle - Everything Must Change
Muse 5158, 1977

A1 Send In The Clowns     5:40    
A2 Where Or When     4:32    
A3 The Village Caller     4:40    
B1 Everything Must Change     3:50    
B2 Lela  10:08    
    Saxophone – Dave Schnitter*
B3 It Wasn't Easy     4:52    



    Arranged By – Paul Marshall (3)
    Bass – George Duvivier
    Drums – Al Foster
    Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
    Harp – Robbin Gordon
    Keyboards – John Patton
    Producer – Ozzie Cadena
    Vibraphone – Johnny Lytle

There is a fair amount of late 70's 'cheese' spread all over most of the tracks here but the 10 minute Lela with saxophonist Dave Schnitter on board is thankfully free of both synthesizer and harp which gives the album one strong saving grace. The remake of Village Caller may be worth saving for a playlist but this is one where you may well drop those two tracks into a compilation and dispense with the rest. Not even George Duvivier is enough to save the rest.