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.


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Awesome album by an underappreciated talent. Go listen to his work with Grant Green on Idle Moments. I was not aware of this album until yesterday when they played some tracks on KSDS in San Diego. Man it sure is great to have a world class jazz station on the good old fm dial without commercials. Cheers Andy

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