Junior Mance - Holy Mama

Today's offering is one of my favorite albums by our main man, Junior Mance.  Recorded in the late 70's, we are getting a snapshot of his best work in my opinion.  The older Riverside and Jazzland sides may be more attractive, but musically Mance is world's ahead by this point in his career.  I wanted to share this side a few years back but it had been reissued to CD.  It appears that it has gone OOP.

Holy Mama is really a showcase for both Mance and Martin Rivera, his bassist.  Sal LaRocca comps accordingly and does an amazing job keeping up with his partners - no easy task.  Overall, the dynamics on Holy Mama really speak to an excellent recording, but also to a trio with great abilities.  From the softest whisper to a lion's roar within a moment's notice, they capture one of the great essences of acoustic jazz.

The opener is a great example of what to expect from this album.  "By The Time I Get To Pheonix" explores just about every emotion and groove that Mance has to offer.  The way in which they change the time signatures, to the way they change the feel is something only the greatest of musicians are capable of.  The group are rooted in swing but use everything available to them;  from funk to blues.  I think that Rivera really deserves a shout out as he shows himself to be a bassist of the highest caliber.  Really, would a player like Junior Mance work with anything less?  Rivera's solo on "That Mellow Feeling" displays not only an immaculate sense of groove and feel, but amazing dexterity and mastery of his instrument.  I find when he takes a solo, I want to yell out to him and encourage him.  He seems to play right to the edge of chaos - where a player loses himself but of course, he always stays in the tune, fully composed.

Holy Mama was ripped from minty vinyl at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC.  I have changed my methods a tad and now use FLAC Frontend to convert from wav.  All scans are still included in 300dpi quality.  For several reasons, I had shy'd away from ripping vinyl - only now and again.  I am now reborn and plan on flooding the Crypt with the huge backlog of albums I have.  I hope everyone digs this Sunday offering... enjoy!!!

___________________________________________________________

Inner City Records
IC 6018
1979

Bass – Martin Rivera
Drums – Salvatore LaRocca
Piano – Junior Mance


A1 By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Written-By – Jim Webb* 7:30

A2 God Bless The Child

Written-By – A. Herzog Jr.*, B. Holiday* 8:17

A3 That Mellow Feeling
Written-By – Junior Mance 7:13 

B1 Holy Mama
Written-By – Junior Mance 5:20

B2 Miss Otis Regrets
Written-By – Cole Porter 2:56

B3 The Good Old Days
Written-By – Junior Mance 5:57

B4 Blues For The Schnug
Written-By – Junior Mance 6:44