Willis Jackson - Headed And Gutted (1974) [vinyl]

Willis "Gator" Jackson's series of albums for Muse during the 1970s helped keep alive the soulful, tough tenor tradition of Illinois Jacquet, Gene Ammons, and (later on) Houston Person. For this particular set, the participation of guitarist Pat Martino made the date more notable than it might have been. With Mickey Tucker on keyboards, electric bassist Bob Cranshaw, drummer Freddie Waits, and Richard Landrum and Sonny Morgan on percussion, Jackson still sounds very much in his prime, particularly on the exciting "Gator Whale." The other selections tend to emphasize ballads "My One and Only Love" and funky jazz "The Way We Were". ~ Scott Yanow, AMG.

Headed And Gutted is basically a one-tracker. That comes in the form of the title track that is a real nice, mid-tempo funky Jazz piece. It has a driving rhythm and Jackson’s soloing over the top. The rest of the album is more straight-ahead Jazz splitting between the slow and mellow Blue Velvet and The Way We Were, and the more upbeat Miss Ann and Gator Whale. ~ Soulstrut.com.

Muse Records, MR 5048, 1974

Recorded 16^th May, 1974

Musicians:

Willis Jackson - Tenor Saxophone

Mickey Tucker - Piano, Electric Piano, Organ

Pat Martino - Guitar

Bob Cranshaw - Bass

Freddie Waits - Drums

Sonny Morgan - Percussion

Richard Landrum - Congas

Tracks:

A1. Headed And Gutted {Sonny Phillips} (5:21)

A2. Blue Velvet {Bernie Wayne, Lee Morris} (8:16)

A3. Miss Ann [Willis' Wife] {Willis Jackson} (6:28)

B1. The Way We Were {Marvin Hamlisch} (6:49)

B2. Gator Whale {Sonny Phillips} (6:06)

B3. My One And Only Love {Guy Wood, Robert Mellin} (5:44)

Credits:

Producer, Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Recording Engineer - Paul Goodman [RCA]

Liner Notes - Ralph Berton

Neal Creque - Creque (1972) [vinyl]

Creque is the 3rd album I’ve bought from this keys player. Bassist Gene Taylor starts things off with a grooving open bass line leading into a bit of an off-kilter song called Rafiki. Sis Daisy is a light and upbeat soul-jazz number with some nice congas by Richard “Pablo” Landrum. What’cha Call It is a slow and bluesy number that would make a nice listen when you’re in the right mood. ~ Soulstrut.com.

Cobblestone Records, CST 9005, 1972

Muse Records, MR 5226, 1976

Recorded at RCA Recording Studio, New York City

Musicians:

Neal Creque - Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Clavinet

Billy Butler - Guitar

Alfred Brown - Violin

Kermit Moore - Cello

Gene Taylor - Bass, Fender Bass

Steve Berrios - Drums, Tympani

Julian Barber - Drums

Richard Landrum - Conga, Bongos, African Oboe, Misc. Percussion

Selwart Clarke - Misc. Percussion

Jackie Soul & Johnny Gittens - Misc. Percussion

+

Strings

The Ikinen Singers (#A2)

Tracks:

A1. Rafiki (4:57)

A2. Years Of Regret (4:29)

A3. Sis Daisy (4:34)

A4. Nina (4:38)

B1. What'Cha Call It (5:02)

B2. Black Velvet Rose (4:28)

B3. Cease The Bombing (4:56)

B4. Before The Rain Came (5:41)

All Compositions by Neal Creque

Credits:

Producer, Design, Photography - Don Schlitten

A&R Coordinator, Liner Notes - Joe Fields

Recording Engineer - Paul Goodman

Note:

Released on Cobblestone Records, and reissued January, 1976 on Muse Records as "Black Velvet Rose".