Hank Crawford - From The Heart (1962) [vinyl>flac]

Warm and laidback soul jazz from the great Hank Crawford – cut in a relaxed mode that makes the set feel like some of the late nite smokers on the Prestige label at the time! Hank's alto work is perfectly placed on the set, and he's working with fellow Ray Charles bandmember David Fathead Newman on tenor – plus John Hunt and Phil Guilbeau on trumpets, and Leroy Cooper on baritone sax – plus guitar from Sonny Forrest on two tracks. Titles include "The Peeper", "Sherri", "Sweet Cakes", "Don't Cry Baby", "What Will I Tell My Heart", and "But On The Other Hand". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Recorded in 1962 with most of the same band that made Soul Clinic, Hank Crawford turns in a simmering, deep soul performance that draws in equal parts from Ray Charles' R&B, James Moody's blues and Duke Ellington's swing. Accompanied by Texas tenor giant David "Fathead" Newman, baritone saxophonist Leroy Cooper, trumpeters John Hunt and Phil Guilbeau, bassist Edgar Willis and drummer Bruno Carr (with Sonny Forrest on guitar on three tracks), Crawford follows the soul-blues Muse into the night on this set. His four originals, including "Stoney Lonesome," "The Peeper" and "Sherri," are high points, so are his readings of Percy Mayfield's classic "But on the Other Hand," and Charles' "Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand." The bookends on the set are the Unger-Bernie-Johnson blues finger-popper "Don't Cry Baby" and the elegant, melancholy ballad "What Will I Tell My Heart." From the Heart features Crawford digging deep into the Memphis tradition for expression. His own playing is exceptional as is that of Newman. These solos are as notable for their restraint in the service of melody as they are for their depth of expression. This is an early highpoint for Crawford. ~ by Thom Jurek, AMG.

Atlantic Records, SD 1387, 1962

Recorded 8^th November, 1961 - 16^th May, 1962

Personnel:

Hank Crawford - Alto Saxophone

David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Saxophone

Leroy Cooper - Baritone Saxophone

Philip Guilbeau - Trumpet [Solo #B3]

John Hunt - Trumpet

Sonny Forrest - Guitar (#A1,A5,B1)

Edgar Willis - Bass

Bruno Carr - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Don't Cry Baby {Stellar Unger, Saul Bernie, James P. Johnson} (4:21)

A2. Sweet Cakes {Hank Crawford} (3:38)

A3. You've Changed {Bill Carey, Carey Fischer} (3:18)

A4. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hand {Ray Charles} (3:52)

A5. Sherri {Hank Crawford} (4:37)

B1. The Peeper {Hank Crawford} (3:08)

B2. But On The Other Hand {Percy Mayfield} (5:02)

B3. Stoney Lonesome {Hank Crawford} (5:42)

B4. What Will I Tell My Heart {Peter Tinturin, Jack Lawrence, Irving Gordon} (5:09)

Credits:

Producer, Supervisor - Nesuhi Ertegun

Audio Engineer - Tom Dowd, Phil Lehle

Cover Design - Loring Eutemey

Cover Photo - Jim Marshall

Liner Notes - Leo Davis