Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott - Smokin' (1958) [re-rip]

Tenor saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis recorded enough material over these two sessions to fill up four records. The seven selections included on this album were recorded during the same period as Davis's better-known Cookbook albums. The album includes: Jerome Richardson swapping between baritone, flute and tenor on three of the tunes; bassist George Duvivier; drummer Arthur Edgehill and of course the 'Queen of the Organ' Shirley Scott. As a group the players swing hard covering some solid originals by both Eddie and Shirley, some blues and an occasional ballad. It is not hard to see why this Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis band was very popular in its time being such a powerful and accessible band even today's mixed jazz world. A definite classic of this genre. ~ Extract by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Prestige Records, PRST 7301, 1963
Recorded on 12th September (#A3,B1,B3,B4)
& 5th December, 1958 (#A1,A2,B2) Hackensack, New Jersey 

Musicians:
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Tenor Saxophone
Jerome Richardson - Baritone Sax (#A1), Flute (#A2), Tenor Sax (#B2)
Shirley Scott - Organ
George Duvivier - Bass
Arthur Edgehill - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. High Fly {Randy Weston} (6:14)
A2. Smoke This {Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Shirley Scott} (6:05)
A3. Pennies From Heaven {Johnny Burke, Arthur Johnston} (5:14)
B1. Pots And Pans {Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Shirley Scott} (3:27)
B2. Jaws {Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Shirley Scott} (5:28)
B3. It's A Blue World {George Forrest, Robert C. Wright} (5:01)
B4. Blue Lou {Irving Mills, Edgar Sampson} (3:39) 

Total Time: 35:08 

Credits:
Supervision - Esmond Edwards
Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder
Cover Design, Photo - Don Schlitten
Liner Notes - John D. Monroe (November 1963)

If you enjoy this great LP don’t forget to check the previous post:
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott - Misty (1963)

Don Patterson - The Best Of Don Patterson & The Jazz Giants (1969)

The term "jazz giants" is no overstatement for this selection of choice tracks from the brilliant organist's output for Prestige between 1964 and 1969. The various lineups on the LP's six tracks are made up of players who excel in playing Patterson's brand of smart, hard-bopping soul jazz: Sonny Stitt, Pat Martino, Charles McPherson, George Coleman, Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook among others. Cohesive pacing and sound put this release a few notches above most all-star/best-of sets. There's no awkward shoehorning guests in for celebrity cameos, rather the players all sound like members of tight, working units. It helps to have Patterson stalwarts guitarist Martino and drummer Billy James on board for most of the music, as they share the artist's ability to generate exciting, hard-driving music with their great blues feeling and outstanding chops. The three tracks with Martino are the high points: Stitt's "Ratio and Proportion," Billy James' "Little Shannon," and Charlie Parker's "Donna Lee." As he consistently does in his work with Patterson, Martino impresses with his stunning rhythm work, in addition to his more widely recognized role as a killer soloist. The version of "Donna Lee" here is also significant for the presence of veteran bebopper Howard McGhee, who is in excellent form on this feature for his trumpet. The mark of a strong best-of package is one that stands on its own as a coherent presentation of the artist's work, as well as one that prompts the listener to seek out the complete sessions that were drawn on for the compilation. On both these accounts, this survey of Patterson's work is a complete success. ~ by Jim Todd, AMG.

Prestige Records, PRST 7772, 1969

Recorded 24^th September, 1968 (#A1) in New York City

Recorded 2^nd June, 1969 (#A2) At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Recorded 22^nd February, 1968 (#A3) in New York City

Recorded 10^th May, 1967 (#B1) At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Recorded 19^th March, 1964 (#B2) At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Recorded 5^th June, 1968 (#B3) in New York City

Personnel:

Don Patterson - Organ

Virgil Jones - Trumpet (#A2)

Howard McGhee - Trumpet (#A3)

Blue Mitchell - Trumpet (#B3)

Charles McPherson - Tenor Saxophone (#A1)

Sonny Stitt - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,B2)

George Coleman - Tenor Saxophone (#A2)

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone (#A2)

David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Saxophone (#B1)

Junior Cook - Tenor Saxophone (#B3)

Pat Martino - Guitar (#A1-A3,B3)

Billy James - Drums (#A1,A3,B1,B2)

Frankie Jones - Drums (#A2)

Tracks:

A1. Ratio And Proportion {Sonny Stitt} (5:09)

A2. Perdido {Ervin Drake, Hans Lengsfelder, Juan Tizol} (8:50)

A3. Donna Lee {Charlie Parker} (6:16)

B1. Mellow Soul {Don Patterson} (6:35)

B2. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone {Sidney Clare, Sam H. Stept} (5:42)

B3. Little Shannon {Billy James} (6:56)

Total Time: 39:28

See Session Info [Personnel].txt for further details

Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers - Tough! (1966)

A bit more jazz and pop-oriented than some of his later sessions, with covers of "Yesterday," "The Shadow of Your Smile," "And I Love Her," "Walk On By," and "Goldfinger." However, when Pucho decides to pull out the funky grooves -- as he does on "Cantaloupe Island," "Vietnam Mambo," and "Strange Thing Mambo" - he and the Latin Soul Brothers can smoke. Even at its slightest, this is decent mood music. At its best, it's significantly more than that, Enjoy!

The Latin Soul Brothers were at their best when they went for the hottest and funkiest grooves, as on their fine version of "Cantaloupe Island," or eccentrically titled originals like "Soul Yamie" and "Vietnam Mambo." The Latin Soul Brothers certainly couldn't have been accused of predictability, incorporating straight modern jazz chops, psychedelic flourishes, and soul-jazz organ grooves into their repertoire when the mood suited them. The constant factor was the active Latin percussion section, featuring conga, bongos, and Pucho's own timbales. ~ Extract by Richie Unterberger, AMG.

Prestige Records, PRST 7471, 1966

Recorded 15^th February, 1966 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Personnel:

Henry "Pucho" Brown - Timbales

Vincent McEwan - Trumpet

Claude Bartee - Tenor Saxophone

William Bivens - Vibraphone

John Spruill - Piano

Jon Hart - Bass

Richie “Pablo” Landrum - Congas

Norberto Apellaniz - Bongos

Tracks:

A1. Cantaloupe Island {Herbie Hancock} (3:49)

A2. Walk On By {Burt Bacharach, Hal David} (2:37)

A3. Just For Kicks {James Phillips} (2:37)

A4. And I Love Her {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (3:41)

A5. Vietnam Mambo {Pucho} (4:00)

B1. The Shadow Of Your Smile {Johnny Mandel, Paul Francis Webster} (5:09)

B2. Strange Thing Mambo {Arthur Sterling} (2:30)

B3. Goldfinger {John Barry, Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley} (5:06)

B4. Yesterday {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (3:07)

Total Time: 32:36

Credits:

Producer - Cal Lampley

Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Design, Photography - Don Schlitten

Notes - Ahmad Basheer (April 1966)

Maynard Ferguson - Maynard Ferguson 1969

This is probably Maynard's most enjoyable album ever. Different versions of some of the tunes were released on other albums, but this recording is special. I've heard virtually all of Maynard's recordings, and this one is the only one that uses more natural acoustics so you get to hear Maynard's sound without a lot of amplification, as it would be heard in a good concert hall. The effect is a natural, reverberant sound completely unlike super-dry jazz studio recordings or overload-the-mic "live" recordings. This is Maynard at the height of his powers, with a fantastic band, playing the big band jazz he did so well before his more commercial endeavors. Most notably, this album features Maynard's most dramatic reading of "Ole," with mind-blowing trips into the stratosphere, and a version of "Got the Spirit" that features Maynard far more than the "Live at Jimmy's" recording. Highly recommended. ~ Music Is Everything, Amazon.com.

MPS Records, MPS 15 166 ST, 1968

Prestige Records, PRST 7636, 1969

Recorded circa mid-December, 1967 in Baden-Baden, Germany

Personnel:

Maynard Ferguson - Trumpet

Rolf Schneebiegl - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Klaus Mitschele, Karl Sauter, Siegfried Achhammer - Trumpet

Gerhard Lachmann, Heinz Hermannsdorfer, George Hohne - Trombone

Werner Betz - Bass Trombone

Bernd Fischer, Werner Baumgart - Alto Saxophone, Clarinet

Bert Huseman - Tenor Saxophone, Solo (#B2), Flute

Rudi Flierl - Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet

Johnny Feigel - Baritone Saxophone, Solo (#A2)

Dieter Reith - Piano, Solo (#A4)

Jurgen Franke - Guitar

Werner Schulze - Bass

Herman Mutschler - Drums

Rolf-Hans Mueller - Conductor

Arranger - Michael Abene (#A1,A2)

Tracks:

A1. Almost Like Being In Love {Al Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe} (1:51)

A2. Knarf {Michael Abene} (4:29)

A3. Ole {Maynard Ferguson, Slide Hampton} (7:07)

A4. Dancing Nitely {Bill Holman} (5:08)

B1. Tenderley {Jack Lawrence, Walter Gross} (3:02)

B2. Whisper Not {Benny Golson, Milt Jackson} (6:23)

B3. Got The Spirit {Slide Hampton} (9:26)

Total Time: 37:26

Archie Shepp - Coral Rock (1970)

Coral Rock features an absolutely monster free jazz lineup. Fans of other releases on America or the BYG Actuel series should be familiar with a number of these sidemen: Bobby Few, Clifford Thornton, Muhammad Ali, Joseph Jarman. Particularly of interest, though, might be the under-recorded Alan Shorter, who contributed the title track. This piece is especially reminiscent of "Mephistopheles," a tune that appeared (in different capacities) on his brother Wayne's similarly great Blue Note LP The All Seeing Eye and certain reissue pressings of the self-titled Marion Brown record on ESP. Like "Mephistopheles," "Coral Rock" features a lumbering, march-like bassline and incredibly dissonant head. "Coral Rock," however, is much looser and, for this reason, it would be difficult to imagine it on a Blue Note release of any kind. This is free jazz straight out of the late-'60s/early-'70s Paris scene. Very serious stuff. That having been said, the inclusion of the standard "I Should Care" may come as a surprise, but one should keep in mind that no matter how far out Archie Shepp got, his roots have always been firmly planted in the past. It is seemingly presented here more as a vehicle for pianist Bobby Few than anything else and, within Shepp's catalog, might be compared to the free blues of "Damn If I Know (The Stroller)" from his 1968 Impulse LP, The Way Ahead. This session was reissued in the States by Prestige. ~ by Brandon Burke, AMG.

America Records, 30 AM 6103, 1970

Prestige Records, PRST 10066, 1973

Recorded 23^rd July, 1970 At Studio Decca, Paris, France

Musicians:

Archie Shepp - Tenor Saxophone, Piano

Lester Bowie - Trumpet

Al Shorter - Flugelhorn

Clifford Thornton - Valve Trombone

Bobby Few - Piano

Bob Reid - Bass

Mohamed Ali - Drums

Ostaine Blue Warner - Percussion

Djibrill - Conga Drums

Tracks:

A. Coral Rock {Alan Shorter} (22:09)

B. I Should Care {Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn} (14:05)

Total Time: 36:14

Credits:

Producer - Pierre Berjot

Photography - Gilbert Moreau

Sleeve Notes - Valerie Wilmer

David "Fathead" Newman - Concrete Jungle (1978) [vinyl]

David "Fathead" Newman has appeared through the years in both straight-ahead and commercial settings. This LP leans towards latter category; Newman here is and was a versatile performer and, on this album, he divides his time almost equally between alto, soprano, tenor and flute showcasing his ability to produce some wonderful Soul/Jazz-Funk. On this date he is accompanied by an electrified rhythm section that includes Pat Rebillot on keyboards and guitarist Jay Graydon backed by a string orchestra arranged by William Fischer. Included in the assemble are other players such as Jimmy Owens, Earl McIntyre, Babe Clarke, Clarence Thomas, Kenneth Harris and Kermit Moore. The tunes include McCoy Tyner's "Blues For Ball", Buddy Johnson "Save Your Love For Me", Stevie Wonder’s "Knocks Me Off My Feet", Bob Marley's "Concrete Jungle" and Marvin Gaye's "Distant Lover" and one of his own "Sun Seeds." Fischer’s arrangements truly compliment this material which can be criticised as being a bit dated, but David's skills are a truly masterful example of this late great player, Enjoy!

Prestige Records, P-10104, 1978

Recorded November, 1977 At Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, CA & New York City

Musicians:

David "Fathead" Newman - Flute, Soprano, Alto and Tenor Saxophones

Pat Rebillot - Keyboards

Jay Graydon - Electric Guitar

Abraham LaBoriel - Electric Bass

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Bill Summers - Congas, Percussion

Tracks:

A1. Knocks Me Off My Feet {Stevie Wonder} (3:58)

A2. Save Your Love For Me {Buddy Johnson} (5:20)

A3. Blues For Ball {McCoy Tyner} (4:22)

A4. Dance Of The Honey Bee And The Funky Fly {William Fischer} (6:17)

B1. Concrete Jungle {Bob Marley} (7:25)

B2. Sun Seeds {David Newman} (5:17)

B3. Distant Lover {Fuqua, Gaye, Greene} (7:25)

Total Time: 40:04

Credits:

Producer - Orrin Keepnews, William Fischer

Arranger, Conductor - William Fischer

Engineer [Basic Recording], Remix - Eddie Bill Harris

Engineer [Assistant] - Wally Buck

Engineer [Additional Recording-Strings] - Vince McGarry

Mastering Engineer - John Golden

Art Direction - Phil Carroll

Cover Art - Dennis Gassner, Roberto Morrison

Photography - Phil Bray

Note:

See Track [Personnel].txt for more player details.

Melvin Sparks - Spark Plug (1971)

Spark Plug is the 2^nd album by Melvin Sparks recorded for Prestige in 1971

Massive funkiness! This album ranks as one of the best from the early 70's period at Prestige, and it features a crack group of young heavy hitters like Sparks on guitar, Leon Spencer on organ, Grover Washington on tenor, and Idris Muhammad on drums – all wailing, just wailing, away on long funky tracks with solos that go waaaaay over the top! There's a full, extended brilliance here that has to be heard to be believed – an intensity of jazz funk energy that few groups or scenes in later years ever matched. Tracks include the wild "Conjunction Mars", "Spark Plug", and a funky cover of "Who's Gonna Take The Weight". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige Records, PR 10016, 1971

Recorded 1^st (#A1) & 8^th (#A2-B3) March, 1971
At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Melvin Sparks - Guitar

Virgil Jones - Trumpet

Grover Washington Jr. - Tenor Saxophone

Leon Spencer Jr. - Organ (#A1)

Reggie Roberts - Organ (#A2-B3)

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Who's Gonna Take The Weight? {Kool & The Gang} (9:22)

A2. Spark Plug {Melvin Sparks} (8:49)

B1. Conjunction Mars {Melvin Sparks} (8:12)

B2. Alone Together {Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz} (4:17)

B3. Dig Dis {Melvin Sparks} (6:48)

Total Time: 37:28

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Artwork [Cover] - Tony Lane

Liner Notes - Tom Curry

Kool & The Gang [Members]

Gene Redd, George Brown, Richard Westfield, Robert Mickens, Dennis Thomas, Woodrow Sparrow, Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell]

Archie Shepp - Black Gipsy (1969)

Black Gipsy is an interesting album, not just because it's one of the very few dates where Archie Shepp plays soprano exclusively, but because the album also features a harmonica player, Leroy Jenkins on viola, and a vocalist named Chicago Beauchamp (aka Chicago Beau), who also performed with the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Jimmy Dawkins. This is in addition to Clifford Thornton, Noah Howard, Sunny Murray, and the great Dave Burrell on piano. On "Black Gipsy," after an intro by Jenkins, Murray and bassist Earl Freeman set up a powerful martial groove, pushed by Burrell's lowend piano work. The horns and harmonica use this as a launching point, while Chicago Beauchamp sporadically spouts his street poetry. "Epitaph of a Small Winner" is something of a travelogue suite, starting in Rio de Janeiro with a light, upbeat melody. Casablanca is next, where the proceedings become a bit mellower and mysterious, then it's on to a near bluesy romp for the last stop in Chicago. This music gets intense, but melody is always at its core: this is not just a free blowing session. The rhythm section keeps things well grounded, aided greatly by Burrell's marvelous comping while the horns and harmonica take the melodies and run with them. Good stuff. ~ Extract by Sean Westergaard, AMG.

America Records, 30 AM 6099, 1970

Prestige Records, PRST 10034, 1972

Recorded 9^th November, 1969 At Decca Studios, Paris, France

Personnel:

Archie Shepp - Soprano Saxophone

Clifford Thornton - Trumpet

Noah Howard - Alto Saxophone

Julio Finn - Harmonica

Dave Burrell - Piano

Leroy Jenkins - Viola

Earl Freeman - Double Bass

Sonny Murray - Drums

Chicago Beauchamp - Vocals

Tracks:

A. Black Gipsy {Augustus Arnold, Chicago Beauchamp} (25:37)

Epitaph Of A Small Winner {Chicago Beauchamp, Julio Finn} (22:34)

B1. Rio De Janeiro

B2. Casablanca

B3. Chicago

Total Time: 48:11

Credits:

Producer - Pierre Berjot

Photography - Gilbert Moreau

Liner Notes - Chicago Beauchamp, Julio Finn

Melvin Sparks - Akilah! (1972) [re-rip]

Here's another great LP from the guitarist Melvin Sparks. Akilah! is one of his best from Prestige's classic early 70s! It is his third LP and recorded at Rudy van Gelder’s Studio. Sparks is a genius guitarist, with a great talent. He played with Lou Donaldson and Jack McDuff during the late 60s, but by the 70's, he was making his own way as one of the hottest funk guitarists in jazz. The group presented is an excellent one; and features Idris Muhammad on drums, Virgil Jones on trumpet, Frank Wess on tenor, Sonny Fortune on alto and Leon Spencer on organ. Akilah is an album that features more musicians than the usual soul jazz quintet format. Included on the album are guests Ernie Royal on Trumpet, Dave Hubbard on tenor and flute, Hubert Laws on flute, and George Coleman on tenor. Melvin's guitar work is proficient and rewarding. All compositions are by Melvin Sparks except “Love The Life You Live” [Kool & The Gang] and “The Image Of Love” [Leon Spencer]. Orchestrations are arranged by Billy Ver Plank on two tracks. Some highlights include "Love The Life You Live", "Akilah", and "All Wrapped Up". Enjoy!

Prestige Records, PRST 10039, 1972
Beat Goes Public, BGPD 1066, 1993

Recorded 14^th & 21^st February, 1971 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Melvin Sparks - Guitar

Virgil Jones - Trumpet (#A1,A2,B1)

Ernie Royal - Trumpet (#B1)

Sonny Fortune - Alto Saxophone (A1,A2,B1,B2)

George Coleman - Alto Saxophone (#B1)

Frank Wess - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A2,B1)

Dave Hubbard - Tenor Saxophone (#A3), Flute (#B3)

Hubert Laws - Flute (#B3)

Leon Spencer - Organ, Piano

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Buddy Caldwell - Percussion

Tracks:

A1. Love The Life You Live {Gene Redd, Kool & The Gang} (5:35)

A2. On The Up {Melvin Sparks} (5:56)

A3. All Wrapped Up {Melvin Sparks} (4:42)

B1. Akilah {Melvin Sparks} (4:39)

B2. Blues For J.B. {Melvin Sparks} (7:04)

B3. The Image Of Love {Leon Spencer} (6:51)

Credits:

Supervision - Ozzie Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Orchestrations - Billy Ver Planck (#A1,A2)

Art Direction, Photography - Tony Lane

Melvin Sparks - Sparks! (1970)

Sparks! is the debut album by soul jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks recorded for the Prestige label in 1970. On this album Melvin is joined by trumpeter Virgil Jones, saxophonists Grover Washington Jr. and Houston Person, organist Leon Spencer Jr., drummer, Idris Muhammad and percussionist Buddy Caldwell. Even though Melvin chose predominantly popular commercial tunes for this album, he skillfully turns it into a solid soul-jazz outing. The LP contains five songs: ‘Thank You’ a cover of the popular Sly and the Family Stone Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin); ‘I Didn't Know What Time It Was’ is a straight-ahead guitar swinger; ‘Charlie Brown’ turned into a funky cover of the 1958 hit by the Coasters; ‘The Stinker’ another funky blues tune with a soul-jazz feel, featuring Houston Person on tenor saxophone, and again he is heard on ‘Spill The Wine’ which is a funky jam version of the radio hit by Eric Burdon & War released earlier in 1970. Sparks would go on to release another two albums on Prestige “Spark Plug” & “Akilah!”, each showcasing his technical richness, fine improvisations and wonderful phrasing reminding the listener of the style portrayed by Grant Green, probably his most immediate precursor. Only Houston is the sole surviving member of this wonderful band, a superb start to an extraordinary career, enjoy!

Prestige Records, PRST 10001, 1970

BGP Records, BGPD 1065, 1993

Recorded 14^th September, 1970 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Melvin Sparks - Guitar

Virgil Jones - Trumpet

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone (#A3,B1)

John Manning - Tenor Saxophone

Leon Spencer, Jr. - Organ

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Thank You {Sylvester Stewart} (7:59)

A2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (6:27)

A3. Charlie Brown {Jerry Lieber, Mike Stoller} (5:46)

B1. The Stinker {Leon Spencer, Jr.} (6:53)

B2. Spill The Wine {Papa Dee Allen, Harold Ray Brown, B.B. Dickerson, Lonnie Jordan, Charles Miller, Lee Oskar, Howard Scott} (10:56)

Total Time: 38:01

Credits:

Supervisor, Liner Notes - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Design - Don Schlitten

Photo - Al Johnson

Houston Person - Houston Express (1971) [re-rip]

As period soul-jazz goes, this is considerably above the average. It's funky, but not in the bland crossover sense; there's a sense of jazz ensemble discipline to the arrangements, but it's still R&B-based enough to groove to. Cecil Bridgewater (trumpet), Billy Butler (guitar), Bernard Purdie (drums), and Motown bassist Gerry Jemmott are among the more notable contributors to this 1971 session. ~ by Richie Unterberger, AMG.

There are some great players on this album. The electric piano really kicks in on a number of tunes and the brass section adds further highlights, but as usual Houston’s tone is very undeniable and full. Enjoy!

Prestige Records, PR 10017, 1971

Recorded 8^th & 9^th April, 1971 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Cecil Bridgewater - Trumpet (#A4-B2)

Harold "Money" Johnson - Trumpet (#A1-A3,B3)

Thad Jones - Trumpet (#A1-A3,B3)

Ernie Royal - Trumpet (#A1-A3,B3)

Garnett Brown - Trombone (#A1-A3,B3)

Jack Jeffers - Trombone (#A1-A3,B3)

Harold Vick - Tenor Sax, Flute (#A1-A3,B3)

Babe Clarke - Baritone Sax (#A1-A3,B3), Tenor Sax (#A4-B2)

Paul Griffin - Piano, Electric Piano (#A1-A3,B3)

Jimmy Watson - Organ

Ernie Hayes - Organ, Electric Piano (#A4-B2)

Billy Butler - Guitar

Jerry Jemmott - Electric Bass

Bernard Purdie - Drums

Buddy Caldwell - Congas

Tracks:

A1. Young Gifted And Black {Nina Simone, Weldon Irvine} (5:17)

A2. The Houston Express {Horace Ott} (5:50)

A3. Enjoy {Horace Ott} (4:57)

A4. [For God's Sake] Give More Power To The People {Eugene Record} (3:42)

B1. Chains Of Love {Ahmet Nugetre} (7:33)

B2. Just My Imagination {Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong} (5:34)

B3. Lift Every Voice {James Weldon Johnson, John Rosamond Johnson} (5:40)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Arranger, Conductor - Horace Ott (#A1-A3,B3)

Art Direction, Cover Art - Tony Lane

Back Cover Photo - Al Johnson

Note:
Ahmet Nugetre aka Ahmet Ertegün [Founder Atlantic Records]

Houston Person - Person To Person! (1970) [re-rip]

A mix of Prestige funk and earlier soul jazz - and a record that features tenorist Houston Person blowing with a group that includes Prestige masters like Virgil Jones on trumpet, Grant Green on guitar, Sonny Phillips on keyboards, and Idris Muhammad on drums! Jimmy Lewis plays a Fender bass in the group - which gives the tracks a nice round sound, and pushes the funk component a bit more than usual - and the album includes some nice groovers, like "Son Of Man" and "Up At Joe's, Down At Joe's", plus some mellower, more soulful material. © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige Records, PRST 10003, 1970

Recorded 12^th October, 1970 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Personnel:

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Virgil Jones - Trumpet

Sonny Phillips - Organ, Electric Piano (#A3,B3)

Grant Green - Guitar

Jimmy Lewis - Electric Bass [Fender]

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Buddy Caldwell - Congas

Tracks:

A1. Son Of Man {Harold Ousley} (8:29)

A2. Teardrops {Bunny Biggs} (4:38)

A3. Close To You {Burt Bacharach, Hal David} (5:17)

B1. Drown In My Own Tears {Ray Charles, Henry Glover} (7:18)

B2. Up At Joe's, Down At Jim's {Houston Person} (8:48)

B3. Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday {Bryan Wells, Ronald Dean Miller} (4:33)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder
Design - Don Schlitten
Photo - Al Johnson
Liner Notes - Bill Johnson, WCHD-FM (Nov. 1970)

Houston Person - Sweet Buns & Barbeque (1972) [re-rip]

One of those Prestige records sessions from the early 70's that has more of an electric keyboard groove than a hard organ one, but still a nice set of sweetly funky tracks from Houston Person and his funky tenor. There's a nice cover of "Down Here On The Ground", plus the cuts "Put It Where You Want It", "Groove Thang", and "Sweet Buns & Barbeque", which has some nice hard drums on the intro. Plus, the whole thing's got a cover that features Sweet Buns dripping with barbeque sauce – proof again that shooting soul food in a record album photo just never works! © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige Records, PRT-10055, 1973

Recorded 11^th September and 7^th November, 1972
at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Ernie Royal - Trumpet (#B2-B4)

Victor Paz - Trumpet (#B2-B4)

Frank Wess - Flute, Baritone Saxophone (#B2-B4)

Richard Tee - Organ, Electric Piano, Piano (#A1-A3)

Jimmy Watson - Organ (#B1)

Joe Beck - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar (#A1,A2,A4-B3)

Hugh McCracklin - Acoustic Guitar (#A3)

Ron Carter - Bass (#A1-A3), Guitar (#A3)

George Duvivier - Bass, Electric Bass (#A4-B4)

Grady Tate - Drums

Buddy Caldwell - Congas, Percussion (#A4,B1,B3,B4)

Tracks:

A1. A Song For You {Leon Russell} (4:26)

A2. The Trouble With Hello Is Goodbye {Bergmanns, The, Dave Grusin} (4:00)

A3. Scared To Be Alone {Dory Previn} (4:08)

A4. Sweet Buns And Barbeque {Houston Person, Billy Ver Planck} (3:03)

B1. This Masquerade {Leon Russell} (6:07)

B2. Down Here On The Ground {Gale Garnett, Lalo Schifrin} (3:38)

B3. Put It Where You Want It {Joe Sample} (3:05)

B4. Groove Thang {Johnny Bristol} (3:01)

Credits:

Producer - Ozzie Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Arranger - Joe Beck (#A1-A3), Billy Ver Planck (#A4-B4)

Art Direction, Photography [Cover] - Tony Lane

Photography [Back Cover] - Lee Friedlander

Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers - Jungle Fire! (1970)

Henry “Pucho” Brown, and his Latin Soul Brothers continue in the vein of their previous albums, exploring elements of jazz, Latin music, soul, and funk. What sets this LP apart from its predecessors is the interpretation of three Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong tunes. Both writer and lyricist are renowned for their contribution to the Motown Sound and of the late-1960s subgenre of psychedelic soul. The remaining two tracks are penned by Sonny Phillips, an organist, composer and noted soul jazz giant; also, a featured musician and leader on a number of other Prestige LPs. Apart from the great songwriting the album is boosted by the inclusion of saxophonist Seldon Powell, guitarist Billy Butler and as a regular electric pianist Neal Creque, adds his own magical touch. Of course, the Latin beats would not come to much if Pucho & his Latin Soul Brothers didn’t insurmountably fuse into each of the tunes their intoxicating rhythms. In the end another fine and entertaining album, enjoy!

Prestige Records, PRST 7765, 1970

Beat Goes Public, BGPD 1049, 1992

Recorded 12^th January, 1970 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Musicians:

Pucho - Timbales

Al Pazant - Trumpet

Seldon Powell - Tenor Saxophone, Saxophone [Varitone], Flute

Eddie Pazant - Tenor Saxophone

Earl Neal Creque - Electric Piano

Billy Bivins - Vibraphone, Percussion

Billy Butler - Guitar

Seaborn Westbrook - Bass [Fender]

Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - Drums

Joe Armstrong - Congas

Norberto Appellaniz - Bongos

Tracks:

A1. Friendship Train {Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong} (5:10)

A2. Got Myself A Good Man {Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong} (5:48)

A3. The Spokerman {Sonny Phillips} (5:15)

B1. Cloud 9 {Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong} (8:59)

B2. Jamilah {Sonny Phillips} (6:17)

Total Time: 31:29

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Design - Don Schlitten

Photo - H. Armstrong Roberts

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Black Feeling! (1970)

Johnny "Hammond" Smith, a hardcore organist who turned Hammond into his middle name. In many ways this LP could be considered his most groove-filled album released on the prestige label, invariably a jazz funk masterpiece. Virgil Jones's trumpet playing along with saxophonists Rusty Bryant and Leo Johnson bring additional power to this album, especially when compared to its predecessor “Soul Talk”. So too are crisp, tight rhythms of Bernard "Pretty" Purdie’s drumming. Equally guitarist Wally Richardson’s beautifully crafted strumming and Jimmy Lewis' thick bass lines don't disappoint, but of course the star man is Johnny himself swirling away on the Hammond, just listen to his cool organ solos scattered throughout the album. Not to be overlooked, enjoy!

Prestige Records, PRST 7736, 1970

Recorded 22^nd December, 1969 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

=======================================================

Musicians:

Johnny "Hammond" Smith - Organ

Virgil Jones - Trumpet

Rusty Bryant - Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone

Leo Johnson - Tenor Saxophone

Wally Richardson - Guitar

Jimmy Lewis - Electric Bass

Bernard “Pretty” Purdie - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Black Feeling {Leo Johnson} (6:32)

A2. Kindra {Leo Johnson} (5:42)

A3. Johnny Hammond Boogaloo {Wally Richardson} (5:01)

B1. Dig On It {Leo Johnson} (7:57)

B2. When Sunny Gets Blue {Marvin Fisher, Jack Segal} (4:27)

B3. Soul Talk-1970 {Johnny "Hammond" Smith} (6:23)

Total Time: 35:02

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Liner Notes - Bill Buchanan (Boston Globe, Feb. 1970)

Pucho & The Latin Soul Brothers - Heat! (1968)

In the late 1960s Henry "Pucho" Brown was at the top of his game. He successfully merged Soul, Funk and Latin rhythms into a steaming, genre-bending mix; this formula packed both the dance floors and his pockets. He went on to produce a swag of albums. Heat! finds his group banging out their prominent brand of Latin grooves. These tracks as back then still have the capacity to excite the listener today. The album packs a thoroughly contagious array of vibes, hard-driving percussion, Fender bass backed by a small ensemble of somber strings. Other funky elements include Neal Creque's flexing organ licks and the intermingling gruff vocals of Jackie Soul's on a number of the tracks. The majority of the tracks are originals penned by Creque, but there's also a handful of colorful covers including "Georgia On My Mind", which became quite a hit. Other tunes feature a foreboding counterpoint between the strings and William Bevin’s vibes, and showcase what an accomplished arranger Creque was. Taken as a whole, this is an enjoyable and undeniably funky set showcasing some of the band’s best. For anyone who likes Latin jazz funk this album will be of great interest, recommended!

Prestige Records, PRST 7572, 1968

Beat Goes Public, BGPD 1048, 1992

Recorded 23^rd April, 1968 in New York City

Musicians:

Henry “Pucho” Brown - Timbales

Eddie Pazant - Baritone Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute

Al Pazant - Trumpet

Willie Bivens - Vibraphone

Neal Creque - Piano, Organ, Arranger

Jim Phillips - Bass

Norberto Appellaniz - Bongos

Cecil Jackson - Conga

Selwart Clarke, Sanford Allen, Alfred Brown - Violin

Jackie Soul, The Soul Sisters - Vocals

Tracks:

A1. Heat! {Jimmy Phillips} (4:46)

A2. Georgia On My Mind {Hoagy Carmichael} (3:56)

A3. The Presence Of Your Heart {Neal Creque} (4:08)

A4. Psychedelic Pucho {Pucho, Jimmy Phillips, Neal Creque} (6:59)

B1. I Can't Stop Loving You {Don Gibson} (3:37)

B2. Wanderin' Rose {Neal Creque} (7:54)

B3. Let Love Find You {Neal Creque} (3:20)

B4. Candied Yam {Neal Creque} (3:32)

B5. Payin' Dues {Neal Creque} (3:01)

Total Time: 41:13

Credits:

Producer, Design - Don Schlitten

Recording Engineer - Richard Alderson

Graphic Art - Irving Riggs

Eric Kloss - Consciousness! (1970) [re-rip]

Consciousness! is the tenth album by saxophonist Eric Kloss which was recorded in January 1970 and released on the Prestige label. The album sounds a lot more intense than To Hear Is To See! mainly because Pat Martino, who joins the band on guitar, is an fiery presence. A great album from Eric that again teams him with the Miles Davis rhythm section of the late 60's early 70's in addition Pat Martino, who was also entering much freer side to his playing. Overall, the LP is a showcase of soulful electric and funkier grooves a lot different to Kloss' earlier albums and his less tight formations in later years. All tunes are extensive with fine versions of "Sunshine Superman" and "Songs To Aging Children", plus the pieces "Consciousness" and "Outward Wisdom", highly recommended!

Prestige Records, PRST 7793, 1970

Recorded 6^th January, 1970 At RCA Recording Studios, New York City

Personnel:

Eric Kloss - Alto (#A1,B2, B3), Tenor (#A2,B1) Saxophones

Pat Martino - 6 String (#A2,B2), 12 String (#A1,B1,B3) Guitars

Chick Corea - Piano (#A2,B2), Electric Piano (#A1,B1,B3)

Dave Holland - Bass, Electric Bass

Jack DeJohnette - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Sunshine Superman {Donovan Philips Leitch} (10:36)

A2. Kay {Eric Kloss} (10:01)

B1. Outward Wisdom {Pat Martino} (6:05)

B2. Songs To Aging Children {Joni Mitchell} (6:59)

B3. Consciousness {Eric Kloss, Danny DePaola} (8:38)

Total Time: 42:19

Credits:

Producer, Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Engineer - Paul Goodman (RCA)

Liner Notes - Greg Hall (June 1970)

Eric Kloss - In The Land Of The Giants (1969) [vinyl]

This set from 1969, finds the emerging Kloss in full flight, whether the setting is post-bop or modal, standard or balladic. At this juncture, Kloss shows maturity, outstanding technical chops and depth while the now famous supporting cast were obviously motivated and geared up for this session. The personnel here consists of Kloss; Alto Sax, Booker Ervin; Tenor Sax; Jaki Byard; Piano; Alan Dawson; Drums and Richard Davis; Bass. Highlights are, an absolutely stunning, up-tempo version of Miles Davis’ “So What” featuring the towering and vigorous tenor saxophone work of the late Booker Ervin. Here, Kloss and Ervin take turns reaching for the stars via soaring and electrifying lead soloing!........Not a cutting contest yet these esteemed gentlemen perform with conviction as if they were possessed by spirits... Kloss' sweet alto sax tone and sumptuous phrasing is evident on "When Two Lovers Touch". On the Ellington classic, "Things Ain't What They Used To Be" Kloss' expressionism and emotive lyricism displays mature sensibilities and expertise for such a young lad. ~ by Glenn Astarita.

Prestige Records, PRST 7627, 1989

Recorded 2^nd January, 1969 in New York City

Musicians:

Eric Kloss - Alto Saxophone

Booker Ervin - Tenor Saxophone

Jaki Byard - Piano

Richard Davis - Bass

Alan Dawson - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Summertime {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward} (7:30)

A2. So What {Miles Davis} (11:00)

B1. Sock It To Me Socrates {Eric Kloss} (5:17)

B2. When Two Lovers Touch {Eric Kloss} (5:34)

B3. Things Ain't What They Used To Be {Duke Ellington, Ted Persons} (5:48)

Total Time: 35:09

Credits:

Producer, Design - Don Schlitten

Recording Engineer - Dave Jones

Notes - Don Lass (May 1969)

Eric Kloss - To Hear Is To See! (1969) [re-rip]

Here we have another fine album from Eric Kloss. This LP like its follow up album ‘Consciousness!’ features the magnificent Chick Corea, Dave Holland  & Jack DeJohnette ‘Rhythm  Section’ without Pat Martino. Eric sets a newer tone to his earlier Prestige albums. This one clearly showcases his skills and ability to evolve into a more post bop freer jazz style. Well Recommended!

Moody bit of electric stuff recorded by Eric Kloss with the Miles' (then) rhythm section of Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette. The groove is very open ended, as you'd expect from these guys at the time, but Kloss is right in the pocket with his sharp solos on alto and tenor. Tracks include "To Hear Is To See", "Stone Groove", and "Cynara". A tough one to find, and one of Kloss' best records! © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige Records, PRST 7689, 1969

Recorded 22^nd July, 1969 in New York City

Personnel:

Eric Kloss - Alto & Tenor Saxophones

Chick Corea - Piano, Electric Piano

Dave Holland - Bass

Jack DeJohnette - Drums

Tracks:

A1. To Hear Is To See (5:19)

A2. The Kingdom Within (6:00)

A3. Stone Groove (6:57)

B1. Children Of The Morning (8:28)

B2. Cynara (9:36)

All Compositions by Eric Kloss

Credits:

Producer, Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Recording - Danfort Griffiths

Liner Notes - Michael Cuscuna (October, 1969)