September 30, 2012

Lou Donaldson Alligator Bogaloo: Gut Bucket Soul Jazz

Blue Note Lou Donaldson Alligator Bogaloo
1967's Alligator Bogaloo is one of alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson's best soul jazz Blue Note Recordings.

 Hopefully you can forgive the, for lack of a better adjective,"stupid" and totally unrelated cover art.

 "Liberty Records had already bought out Blue Note owner Alfred Lion and graphic artist Reid Miles had been let go.

 Many of the covers of the late 60's tried to capture this type of upper crust "modern" hipster look" "just my own hypothesis", but they are usually dreadful covers.

Despite the Bad cover, the music is the best kind of funky soul jazz, gut bucket and earthy, with plenty of solo space for Donaldson and who ever the Organ player might happen to be, in this case the organist is Dr. Lonnie Smith.

The title track is one of those rare grooves that just finds its way down deep in your soul, I will freely admit, as much as I like the straight ahead bop, hard bop and free bop, I can't get enough of these Hammond B-3 Organ jazz classics.

 Sometimes it seems as if Lou isn't all the way into it, Maybe he felt sheepish about recording a payday?  No doubt this music was meant for the dance clubs and juke boxes, and specifically marketed to young  Americans.

If you're looking to start a Lou Donaldson collection, Alligator Bogaloo, Midnight Creeper, and Blues Walk would be great places to start.

September 26, 2012

Eddie Henderson: Sunburst (1975)

Trumpeter Eddie Henderson's Sunburst is one of the best he cut during the 70's, and easily is a rare groove masterpiece, equal parts complex Return to Forever style fusion and Headhunters's style jazz funk.

Eddie was a huge success in the early 70's as a member of Herbie Hancock's Mwandishi, band, the mother of all jazz funk space rock bands.

 At least until Miles got together with Pete Cosey and put the chug in chuggin' funk for Dark Magus, Agharta, and Pangaea.

Eddie also cranked out some nice similar styled funky space jazz for the Capricorn label, Realization and Inside Out, both stone classics of the era! My favorite still remains Sunburst, the music really does strike a perfect balance between the Capricorn years and the much more commercial funk that Henderson would lay to tape later in the 70's.

 Heritage is also worth a spin, that album seems to be a little bit dollar sign heavy to me, but still some of the sunburst style is there.

The track "Explodition" leads off in fine form, Eddie sure sounds like Miles on this track, really to be honest, their is a quite the funky vibe on this album, maybe a little more like Headhunters than say Inside Out, The title track and "The Kumquat Kids" really do amp up the funk.

 The ensemble that includes, Julian Priester and the underrated Bennie Maupin push the music into a space jazz style. Billy Cobham could achieve this as well. George Duke plays some wonderful Synths on Sunburst, a lot of static colors he employees to great affect, shimmering is a good adjective.




September 25, 2012

McCoy Tyner: The Real McCoy (1967)

Elvin Jones sits behind the drum kit on The Real McCoy,and as usual, his power shines through.

 I always liked Elvin's ride symbol work, he and Tony Williams were the best I think in that regard.

The real star here is tenor Saxophonist Joe Henderson, his muscular tone a perfect replacement for John Coltrane, and he does have a muscular tone that compare well without trying to sound like him. Henderson was his own man.

My favorite track is "Contemplation", a track that pianist Tyner said reminded him of a lonely man walking down the street. It's a fantastic track to meditate to as well, as I a sure the composer had in mind, it works. Henderson searches and searches his own mind, I don't know if ever found any deeper meaning, but I know I sure feel enriched by the album.

 Interestingly enough, I had a similar mood come upon me when I heard the tune for the first time. Henderson really shines on the track. "Search for Peace" is another Modal piece that stretches out on a reflective mood.

"Passion Dance" really has a hectic exotic rhythm, sort of reminds of a Thelonious Monk on amphetamines, a real upbeat piece, and a winner. "Blues on the Corner" is another Monk style piece, that is sort of a sped up"Blue Monk".



September 3, 2012

Duke Pearson: The Right Touch (1968)

The Right Touch, released in 1967 is an oddity because it may be pianist arranger Duke Pearson's best album for Blue Note. The oddity is that it was released after the Liberty buy out when straight ahead jazz was not the focus.

The Right Touch is a thoroughly enjoyable record, with latin and island sounds melding perfectly with the famed Blue Note sound.

 Pearson composed the entire album and it is just a wonderful contemporary jazz sound.

"Chili Peppers" leads of the album in style, certainly an homage to Horace Silver.

 Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, James Spaulding on Alto and the honey-sweet tone of Stanley Turrentine dominate the music.

 It really is amazing how great these "House" Musicians were from Blue Note, Listening to The Right Touch, it is crazy that Pearson isn't a better known name.

Pearson has many albums worth exploring, Introducing Duke Pearson's Big Band, The Phantom, and Wahoo to name 3.

Pearson's greatest strength was as an arranger in my opinion, this guy could make a sextet sound like an orchestra, you give him a 10 piece this guy will take you to another planet with his brand of jazz.

"Scrap Iron" and "My Love Waits (O Meu Amor Espera)" are 2 more exceptional highlights on The Right Touch.

If you're looking for a vinyl copy of The Right Touch, It won't set you back to much. A Blue and White Liberty label will cost you in the $50 range, or a second 70's press like I have won't cost you much more than 20 bucks.


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