Hank Crawford - Dig These Blues (1966) [vinyl>flac]

Hank kicks back and blows soulfully - working in a variety of groups with hip players that include Wendell Harrison, Ali Mohammed, Wilbur Brown, and Leroy Cooper. The overall sound is similar to Crawford's other work on Atlantic - nothing too challenging, but in a soulful mode that's always pretty tight. Titles include "New Blues", "Hollywood Blues", "These Tears", "HC Blues", and "The Crazy Saloon". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

This LP in many ways could easily be considered one of Hank Crawford's finest albums released on Atlantic records. It showcases Hank in some excellent groupings and performing some great soul jazz-jazz blues styled tunes. Highlights include the title track “Dig These Blues”, “Don't Get Around Much Anymore” and "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" featuring Marcus Belgrave on trumpet. The final tune, "Bluff City Blues," features Hank on piano, also heard on "The Crazy Saloon". Overall some deep soul grooves that clearly express Crawford's wonderful versatility and phenomenal musicianship.

Atlantic Records, SD 1436, 1966

Recorded 13th April, 1964 (A4,B1,B3); 10th December, 1964 (A1,A3,A5);
and 11th February, 1965 (A2,B2,B4) in New York City

Personnel:

Hank Crawford - Alto Saxophone (#A1,A2,A4-B3), Piano (#A3,B4)

Oliver Beener - Trumpet (#A1,A3,A5)

Phil Guilbeau - Trumpet (#A1,A3,A5)

Jimmy Owens - Trumpet (#A2,B2,B4)

Marcus Belgrave - Trumpet (#A2,B2,B4)

John Hunt - Trumpet (#A4,B1,B3)

Julius Brooks - Trumpet (#A4,B1,B3)

Wendell Harrison - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A3,A5)

Abdul Baari - Tenor Saxophone (#A2,B2,B4)

Wilbur Brown - Tenor Saxophone (#A4,B1,B3)

Leroy Cooper - Baritone Saxophone (#A1,A3-B1,B3)

Howard Johnson - Baritone Saxophone (#A2,B2,B4)

Ali Mohammed - Bass (#A1,A3,A5)

Charlie Green - Bass (#A2,B2,B4)

Edgar Willis - Bass (#A4,B1,B3)

Bruno Carr - Drums (#A1,A3-B1,B3)

Milt Turner - Drums (#A2,B2,B4)

Track Listing:

A1. Dig These Blues {Hank Crawford} (4:33)

A2. Don't Get Around Much Anymore {Duke Ellington, Bob Russell} (5:02)

A3. The Crazy Saloon {Hank Crawford} (2:58)

A4. H. C. Blues {Hank Crawford} (2:48)

A5. These Tears {Hank Crawford} (2:35)

B1. Hollywood Blues {Hank Crawford} (3:18)

B2. Baby Won't You Please Come Home {Charles Warfield, Clarence Williams} (5:46)

B3. New Blues {Phineas Newborn} (4:23)

B4. Bluff City Blues {Hank Crawford} (3:52)

Credits:

Supervision - Nesuhi Ertegün & Arif Mardin

Recording Engineer - Phil Lehle, Tom Dowd

Cover Design - Marvin Israel

Liner Notes - Nat Hentoff

Ray Charles Presents David Newman - Fathead (1958) [vinyl>flac]

Fathead: Ray Charles Presents David "Fathead" Newman (also referred to as Ray Charles Sextet) is the debut release of jazz saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman. Teamed with Ray Charles, ‘Bennie’ aka Hank Crawford and others; this sextet really gets down and plays a number of great tunes, three of which are written by Hank and one by David himself “Fathead”; the rest fine standards, enjoy!

The talented David Newman, who alternates on this album between tenor and alto, made his debut as a leader at this session. Since he was in Ray Charles' band at the time, Newman was able to use Charles on piano along with Hank Crawford (here called "Bennie Crawford") on baritone, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, bassist Edgar Willis, and drummer Milt Turner. The music is essentially soulful bebop, with the highlights including "Hard Times," "Fathead," "Mean to Me," and "Tin Tin Deo." Everyone plays well and this was a fine start to David "Fathead" Newman's career. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG.

Atlantic Records, SD 1304, 1960

Recorded 5^th November, 1958 at Atlantic Recording Studios, New York City

Ray Charles Sextet:

David "Fathead" Newman - Alto Sax (#A1,A3,B3), Tenor Sax (#A2,A4,B1,B2,B4)

[Bennie] Hank Crawford - Baritone Saxophone

Marcus Belgrave - Trumpet

Ray Charles - Piano

Edgar Willis - Double Bass

Milton [Milt] Turner - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Hard Times {Paul Mitchell} (4:41)

A2. Weird Beard {Bennie Crawford} (4:48)

A3. Willow Weep For Me {Ann Ronell} (4:57)

A4. Bill For Bennie {Bennie Crawford} (4:15)

B1. Sweet Eyes {Bennie Crawford} (3:44)

B2. Fathead {David "Fathead" Newman} (5:21)

B3. Mean To Me {Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk} (4:14)

B4. Tin Tin Deo {Gil Fuller, Chano Pozo} (5:19)

Credits:

Supervision - Nesuhi Ertegün, Jerry Wexler

Recording Engineer - Tom Dowd

Cover Photo - Lee Friedlander

Cover Design - Marvin Israel

David "Fathead" Newman - House Of David (1967) [vinyl>flac]

I was fortunate enough to borrow this great LP and grab a rip whilst I listened. Ever since, being turn onto some of Newman’s Muse albums, I have been searching out some of his lesser known earlier LPs and this definitely is a fantastic place to start. David’s luscious tenor sound does not disappoint and with the likes of Ted Dunbar on guitar, Kossie Gardner on organ and Milt Turner on drums supporting him the album boils-over reaching some wonderful soulful heights. The listener gets to hear three Newman compositions as well as a vibrant selection of contemporary jazz and pop tunes. On Miss Minnie he swaps solely to flute. As a supposed comeback album he certainly has nothing to prove other than he is on par with some of the best tenor players that emerged throughout sixties and beyond.  

The House of David was David "Fathead" Newman's comeback album of sorts, marking his first release after the end of his association with Ray Charles and a few years spent with his family in his hometown of Dallas. Organist Kossie Gardner, guitarist Ted Dunbar, and drummer Milt Turner support Newman's gritty "Texas tenor" sound, which captures the straightforwardness of R&B pop and the improvisational elements of jazz. Newman plays the flute on the spunky "Miss Minnie," but one of the most interesting songs on the album is the untypical rendition of a Bob Dylan tune, "Just Like A Woman." the artist's warm tenor lifts this song to angelic heights, and it's fathomed that he had only heard the song a few times before laying down this recording. Other standouts on the album include the Cedar Walton penned closer, "The Holy Land," and the original blues numbers such as the title track and "New Blues." This album boils with inventive hooks and the soulful combination of organ and guitar that would become more pop-oriented on subsequent Newman recordings. ~ by Jeff Schwachter.

Atlantic Records, SD 1489, 1967

Recorded 4th-7th March, 1967

Track Listing:

A1. I Wish You Love (Albert Beach, Charles Trénet} (6:08)

A2. One Room Paradise {J. Leslie McFarland} (1:35)

A3. Little Sister {David Newman} (8:15)

A4. Miss Minnie {Claude Johnson} (2:28)

B1. Just Like A Woman {Bob Dylan} (4:31)

B2. House of David {David Newman} (3:47)

B3. Blue New {David Newman} (3:56)

B4. The Holy Land {Cedar Walton} (7:22)

Personnel:

David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Sax, Flute (A4)

Kossie Gardner - Organ

Ted Dunbar - Guitar

Milt Turner - Drums