Bluesiana Triangle - Bluesiana II (1991)

After Blakey's death, the group released this second album, featuring drummer Will Calhoun (who replaced Art Blakey), trombonist Ray Anderson, bassists Essiet Okon Essiet and Jay Leonhart (on different tracks), and percussionist Joe Bonadio. 

Previously, Windham Hill Records released Bluesiana Triangle, a jazz trio album by drummer Art Blakey, pianist Dr. John, and reed man David "Fathead" Newman. Blakey passed away in 1990, but in the spring of 1991, Dr. John and Newman organized this second Bluesiana session, featuring trombonist Ray Anderson, drummer Will Calhoun, bassists Essiet Okon Essiet and Jay Leonhart (on different tracks), and percussionist Joe Bonadio. The resulting music again justifies the name, blues played in a funky Louisiana style with plenty of room for extended jazzy soloing. Though much of the material was written by Dr. John and he does sing occasionally, this is not a conventional Dr. John vocal album. It does contain some excellent playing, however. ~ by William Ruhlmann, AMG. 

Windham Hill Records, 01934 10133 2, 1991
Recorded 22nd-25th April, 1991 at Acme Studios, Mamaroneck, New York 

Musicians:
Dr. John - Piano, Guitar, Vocals
Ray Anderson - Trombone
David "Fathead" Newman - Saxophone, Flute
Essiet Okon Ossiet - Bass (#6-9)
Jay Leonhart - Bass (#1-5)
Will Calhoun - Drums
Joe Bonadio - Percussion 

Tracks:
01. Fonkalishus {Ray Anderson, David Newman, Mac Rebennack} (5:59)
02. Doctor Blooze {Mac Rebennack} (3:33)
03. Cowan Woman {Mac Rebennack} (6:51)
04. For Art's Sake {Ray Anderson, Mac Rebennack} (8:13)
05. Skoshuss {Mac Rebennack} (5:19)
06. Love's Parody {Will Calhoun} (3:30)
07. Santa Rosalia {Mac Rebennack} (5:33)
08. San Antone {Public Domain} (4:30)
09. Montana Banana {David "Fathead" Newman} (5:30)
10. Tribute To Art {Will Calhoun} (6:52) 

Total Time: 55:50 

Credits:
Producer - Dr. John, David "Fathead" Newman
Producer, Mixing Engineer - Joe Ferry
Executive Producer, Mixing - Sam Sutherland
Producer, Engineer, Mixing - Peter Denenberg
Assistant Producer - Shari Weingarten
Engineer - Thom Leinbach
Mixing - Will Calhoun
Mastering - Ted Jensen [Sterling Sound, NY]
Art Direction, Design - John Sullivan, Dennis Gallagher
Photography - Ray Anderson, Jay Leonhart, John F. Cooper, William Claxton
Illustration - Debbie Drechsler 

Cowan Woman

Rickie Boger - Slow Down, Baby (1976) [vinyl>flac]

Here we have a rare piece of Muse history, a lost soul/jazz gem from a beautiful vocalist backed by an outstanding gathering of great players from that time. After multiple plays this LP becomes quite infectious. I just wish she could have gone on to produce further soul classics, Enjoy!

A righteous bit of soul - one of the only non-jazz albums we've seen on the Muse label, and a really great session that reminds us of work by Alice Clark and Esther Marrow - two other overlooked 70s soul singers who also recorded for jazz labels! Rickie's got a deep soul approach to the vocals that's nicely inflected with jazzy work by players that include Tom Malone, Kalaparusha, Buddy Terry, Warren Smith, and Howard Johnson - the last of whom arranged and conducted the backings, and gives the album a full-on and progressive feel. Rickie's vocals have lots of nice gentle tones, making for some sweet little numbers that sparkle nicely - titles that include "Baby Won't You Stay", "To Be Needed", "In A Little While", "At The Clinic", "What Could It Be", and "I Won't See Yesterday".  © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Muse Records, MR 5084, 1976

Recorded October, November, 1975 At Blue Rock Studio, New York

Personnel:

Rickie Boger - Vocals, Piano (#A3,B1)

Howard Johnson - Flugelhorn (#A2,A3,A5,B3), Tuba (#B1,B4), Baritone Saxophone (#A1-A5), Clarinet (#B2), Bass Clarinet (#B2,B4), Penny Whistle (#A1), Tambourine (#A3,B1)

Tom Malone - Trumpet (#A2,A3,A5), Flugelhorn (#A1,A5), Trombone (#A1-A3,B3), Alto Flute (#B3,B4), Soprano Flute (#B3)

Eric Hanigsberg - Flugelhorn (#A4,B4)

Ray Anderson - Trombone (#A1,A4,A5,B4)

Bob Stewart, Samuel Pilafian - Tuba (#B1)

John Clark - French Horn (#A4,B4)

Buddy Terry - Alto Saxophone (#A1), Tenor Saxophone (#A2-A4), Alto Flute (#B4), Piccolo Flute (#A4)

Kalaparusha [Maurice McIntyre] - Clarinet (#B2)

Frank Vicari - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A5)

Rosalinda Deleon - Piano

Onaje Allan Gumbs - Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes]

Jerry Matthews - Guitar

Herb Bushler - Bass

Pat Dixon - Cello (#A2,A3,B4)

Victor Lewis, Warren Smith - Drums (#A3,B3)

Ellen Deleston - Backing Vocals (#A1,A5,B2)

Sister Strings:

Linda Lawrence, Lois Slessinger - Viola (#A2,A3,B4)

Francine Walsh, Ida Bieler, Nina Simon - Violin (#A2,A3,B4)

Gayle Dixon - Concertmaster (#A2,A3,B4)

Tracks:

A1. What Could It Be? {Rickie Boger} (2:55)

A2. Do You Like My Song? {Elsie Turner} (2:30)

A3. In A Little While {Rickie Boger} (3:21)

A4. At The Clinic {Rickie Boger} (5:23)

A5. I Won't See Yesterday {Rickie Boger} (2:44)

B1. Slow Down Baby {Rickie Boger} (4:15)

B2. To Be Needed {Rickie Boger} (3:08)

B3. We Only Have Love {Rickie Boger} (4:03)

B4. Baby Won't You Stay {Elsie Turner} (2:38)

Credits:

Producer - Ed Korvin

Producer, Arranger, Conductor - Howard Johnson

Recording Engineer - Ed Korvin

Mastering Engineer - Joe Brescio

Design, Photography - Hal Wilson

Liner Notes - Joe Fields