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
 

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)