Arthur Blythe - Lenox Avenue Breakdown

1979 - Columbia release.  One of the coolest album covers of all time.  Why important....the most popular year for disco was 1979 - disco was everywhere and at the top of the charts.  Discofied theme songs and intros were commonplace on American television.  Who would think a jazz masterpiece would be recorded '79?  

This might be the last of the jazz classics.  This is also the last of the modern classics that didn't have a Marsalis name attached to it (written with tongue in cheek).  I've never been a huge fan of the alto saxaphone.   Blythe and Bartz are the two exceptions.....the more interesting question is where does the tuba fit into jazz.  And when has "Blood" Ulmer sounded so in the groove yet restrained?  No doubt that Blythe is impressive but the team of players working together carry the day.  Great example of a septet going off in a disciplined way. 

Personnel: Arthur Blythe (alto saxophone); James Blood Ulmer, Cecil McBee (guitar); James Newton (flute); Bob Stewart (tuba); Jack DeJohnette (drums); Guilherme Franco (percussion).

Tracklist
Down San Diego Way
Lenox Avenue Breakdown
Slidin' Through
Odessa

There is nothing I can say that can't be better said by listening to this composition. Bass parts carried by a tuba....Steady one drop rhythm....Boom ba boom. And James Newton channeling Roland Kirk.  Awesome.

Lenox Avenue Breakdown

Airto Moreira - Fingers

I never thought the cuica could be funky until I heard this.  Airto - master percussionist, sideman extraordinaire....king of the talking drum.  CTI release, 1973.  Creed Taylor with production credits.  Small ensemble with large sound.

Personnel: Flora Purim on percussion and vocals; Airto Moreira on percussion and vocals; David Amaro on guitar; Hugo Fattoruso on keyboards and harmonica; Jorge Fattoruso on drums; and Ringo Thielmann on electric bass.

Tracklist

Fingers

Romance of Death
Merry-Go-Round
Wind Chant
Parana
San Francisco River
Tombo in 74

When you mix Brazilian traditional instruments with rock, funk, and jazz this is what you get.  The tone of the cuica carries this...I don't think I've heard it played like this anywhere else.

Fingers

Les McCann - Hustle to Survive

The defination of soul jazz.  Hustle To Survive (1975, Atlantic).  McCann was past the glory days of Swiss Movement but this is a nice record.  Sometimes when you peak early (Swiss Movement and Layers), this kind of record becomes more of the reality.....got to hustle to survive.  This is that attempt to recapture that earlier magic.  There are some fantastic moments here...Herbie Hancock plays his ass off.  Love McCann's voice.

Personnel: Les McCann (vocals, strings, Clavinet, keyboards, synthesizer); Shiela Raye (vocals, percussion); Miroslaw Kudykowski (guitar, organ); Herbie Hancock (piano); Jimmy Rowser (bass guitar); Harold Davis (percussion).

Tracklist
Us
Changing Seasons
Got to Hustle to Survive
Butterflies/Everytime I See a Butterfly
Says Who Says What?
Will We Ever Find Our Fathers
Well, Cuss My Daddy
Why Is Now
Let Your Learning Be Your Eyes

Us is a burner....pure and simple.
Us
 

Rahsaan Roland Kirk - Blacknuss

1971 Atlantic. This isn't a jazz album.   This is a soul album.  Kirk is serious  - it's an album of mostly interpretations of pop songs but this is not a commercial pop jazz album.  Not covers......interpretations.  Kirk is making a point and getting to the roots of jazz.  The counter argument, at the time of its release, was this was too "populist" a recording.  Too "Pop". The argument is silly.  This is a workout..growls, chants, wild energy....the first time I heard this it stopped me in my tracks. 

Personnel: Rahsaan Roland Kirk (vocals, guitar, flute, stritch, manzello, tenor saxophone, trumpet, gong); Cissy Houston, Princess Patience Burton (vocals); Cornell Dupree, Keith Loving, Billy Butler (guitar); Charles McGhee (trumpet); Dick Griffin (trombone); Richard Tee, Sonelius Smith (piano); Mickey Tucker (organ); Khalil Mhrdi, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (drums); Arthur Jenkins, Jr., Arthur Jenkins , Richard Landrum (congas); Joe Habad Texidor (percussion).

Tracklist
Ain't No Sunshine
What's Goin' On 
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
I Love You Yes I Do
My Girl
Which Way Is It Going
One Nation
Never Can Say Goodbye
Old Rugged Cross
Make It With You
Blacknuss

Title track - a blues jam with vocals by Kirk and Cissy Houston and Sonelius Smith on piano....check his runs.  "Jump up and down on it!"

Blacknuss

Gary Bartz - The Shadow Do!

"Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?... ...The Shadow Do"

Those Mizell Brothers...back in the mix.  This time with Alto saxophonist Gary Bartz.  Prestige, 1975. This is full collaboration...doing a bit more of the jazz than a usual Mizell produced set.  There is edge to this and focus.  I'm not a fan of the alto sax but with this combination, it works. Airy with bottom.  Purist will argue this isn't straight jazz.  They may be right...this is deep groove classic.

Personnel:

Backing Vocals, Producer - Fonce Mizell

Bass - Michael Henderson

Congas, Percussion - Mtume

Drums, Synthesizer - Howard King

Guitar - Reggie Lucas

Piano, Clavinet, Synthesizer - Hubert Eaves

Saxophone [Alto, Soprano], Synthesizer, Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Co-producer, Other [Cover Concept, Title] - Gary Bartz

Synthesizer, Backing Vocals, Producer - Larry Mizell

Tracklist

Winding Roads

Mother Nature
Love Tones
Gentle Smiles (Saxy)
Make Me Feel Better
Sea Gypsy
For My Baby
Incident

Gentle Smiles.  Beyond the classic Tribe Called Quest sample, it is a standout song, thanks to the bottom provided by bassist Michael Henderson.  It is my favorite song on the album.  Beats don't stop...play saxy for me.

Gentle Smiles (Saxy)

Bobbi Humphrey - Fancy Dancer

When I think of Bobbi Humphrey, I have to think of the Mizell brothers. I love her flute but I appreciate it so much more within this partnership.   They had three collaborations (Black and Blues, Satin Doll and Fancy Dancer).  They blended a combination of funk, soul, and jazz - touches that we take for granted.  Groundbreaking at the time.  This is not smooth jazz.  It is subtle and focused on the groove.

Fancy Dancer is a 1975 Blue Note release.  Critics can call this elevator music  - you need to view this recording within the context of the trilogy.  This is the last piece of the puzzle...indulgent but at moments effortless.  Bobbi's playing holds it together.  Tight, soulful.....Fusion.

Personnel: Arranged By [Background Vocal Arrangements] - Fonce Mizell , Larry Mizell; Bass - Chuck Rainey; Clavinet, Synthesizer [Solina], Trumpet - Fonce Mizell; Congas - Mayuto Correa; Drums - Harvey Mason; Flute, Vocals - Bobbi Humphrey; Guitar - Craig McMullen , John Rowin; Harp - Dorothy Ashby; Marimba, Vibraphone - Roger Glenn; Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Clavinet - Skip Scarborough; Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Synthesizer [Arp] - Jerry Peters; Piano, Synthesizer [Solina, Arp], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] - Larry Mizell; Saxophone [Tenor] - Tyree Glenn, Jr.; Trombone - Julian Priester; Trumpet - Oscar Brashear; Vocals - Augie Rey , Bobbi Humphrey , Fonce Mizell , Jesse Acuna , Katherine Lyra , Larry Mizell , Rosario Davila , Sónia Tavares

Track List
Uno Esta
The Trip
You Make Me Feel So Good
Fancy Dancer
Mestizo Eyes
Sweeter Than Sugar
Please Set Me At Ease

As songs go on this release, The Trip sets it off.  Love the spacy introduction.  It is the perfect defination of the Humphrey/Mizell Brothers partnership.  Her flute floats away..above the groove.

The Trip

Roland Kirk - Volunteered Slavery

Columbus, Ohio jazz legend.  This was recorded before he was Rahsaan...I'll make the argument that Kirk played jazz, blues, soul, and funk.  Yes, he was multi-instrumentalist who laid the foundation for the crossover jazz with a series of albums.  Inflated Tear in 1967, Left and Right in 1968, Volunteered Slavery in 1969...culimating in Blacknuss in 1971.

Blacknuss gets the critical acclaim but I'm partial to Volunteered Slavery, 1969 (Atlantic).  One half-studio, one half-live recording at the 1968 Newport Jazz Festival.  The live cuts explode.  Wild, controlled...absolutly nothing like it.   This is a jazz classic that grooves hard.  Probably the best interpretation of Coltrane on record as well. 

Personnel: Ron Burton, Vernon Martin, Jimmy Hopps and Joe Habad Texidor, Charles McGhee, Dick Griffith, Sonny Brown, Charles Crosby and the Roland Kirk Spirit Choir.

One Ton is the from the Newport set.  It is a jam-blues.  Those who like Jethro Tull or Bobbi Humphrey need to hear this.  I swear he beatboxes.....through his nose.  Nobody soloed like Kirk.

One Ton
 

 

Esther Phillips - Burnin' (Live at Freddie Jett's Pied Piper Club, L.A.).

I am driving early this morning to meet a friend...8 inches of snow on the roads. Quiet, beautiful, sublime and I'm playing this. Esther Phillips is a complicated singer and this may be arguably her finest work. I don't buy that her voice is an acquired taste....you just have to listen.

This, from her transition album Burnin' (Live at Freddie Jett's Pied Piper Club, L.A.). Released  1970 on Atlantic, prior to her CTI/Kudo relationship...its safe to say her talent had been written off.  She was singing her way into obscurity. However - we have this album and this remarkable transition. The transition from talented but troubled teen singer and adult to an artist.   Few ever make that transition. Fewer still with the urgency of these performances. 

Personnel includes: Cornell Dupree (electric guitar); Jack Wilson (electric and acoustic piano); Richard Tee and Paul Griffin (organ); Chuck Rainey (fender bass); and Donald Bailey (drums).  Arrangements by King Curtis - he's on tenor sax (overdub session).  Joe Gentle on the flute (overdub session).

The track that sets the tone is And I love him (Lennon/McCartney song...classic Beatles).  From her opening intro over guitar and flute that jumps right into the melody.  It floats.  As she says, "I do most of my love songs for lovers becuase I love to love".   Framing the song not unlike Dinah Washington.  I can listen to this all day. 

And I Love Him (Live)