Among the rarest Blue Note recordings are the ones issued in the early ’50s on 10″ LPs, a format that did not catch on (being quickly overshadowed by 12″ LPs). Among the two albums that fell into the cracks were sessions by Howard McGhee (another CD has his initial Blue Note…
This 1998 CD has all of the music from two formerly scarce 10″ LPs. Trumpeter Howard McGhee heads an all-star group that includes trombonist J.J. Johnson, tenor saxophonist Brew Moore, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Curly Russell, and drummer Max Roach on “I’ll Remember April,” an original by the leader and four songs (plus an alternate take) by Drew,…
By 1947, Blue Note had switched its focus to bop; the label’s final trad recordings were of George Lewis’ band. There was always something very charming about the clarinetist’s spirited music, and he became one of the most popular New Orleans jazzmen of the 1950s. Lewis’ last of three…
A set of gritty electric funk and soulful blues, Down Home Style is an excellent showcase for Brother Jack McDuff’s gripping, funky style. Inspired more by the tight grooves of Stax Records than bebop, Down Home Style features McDuff leading a small group through a number of R&B grooves,…
Moon Rappin’ is one of Brother Jack McDuff’s most ambitious efforts, a loose concept album that finds the organist exploring funky and spacy soundscapes. Unlike most McDuff records, there isn’t a steady groove that flows throughout the record — the album flies into atmospheric territory that isn’t strictly soul-jazz,…
On the first new release from the Mosaic subsidiary of Blue Note, veteran trumpeter Tolliver finally makes the long awaited big-band recording of the group that has played occasionally in New York City, revived from the remnants of his legendary ’70s Music Inc. Orchestra. A bit of the old repertoire (“Mournin’ Variations”…
Most Blue Note soul-jazz albums from the late ’60s went one of three ways: it either was a straight-ahead commercial session, a slightly psychedelic outing, or a funky workout with a vague “Black Power” theme.Dr. Lonnie Smith had followed the latter path with Think!, the predecessor to Turning Point, and there are…
Think!, organist Lonnie Smith‘s 1968 sophomore effort for Blue Note, is easily one of the strongest dates the Hammond B-3 master would produce for the label. Featuring a stellar group of musicians including trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist David Newman, guitarist Melvin Sparks, and drummerMarion Booker, Jr., as well as a three-member Afro-Latin…
Move Your Hand was recorded live at Club Harlem in Atlantic City on August 9, 1969. Organist Lonnie Smith led a small combo — featuring guitarist Larry McGee, tenor saxist Rudy Jones, bari saxist Ronnie Cuber, and drummer Sylvester Goshay — through a set that alternated originals with two pop covers, the Coasters‘ “Charlie Brown” and Donovan‘s “Sunshine Superman.”…
Recorded on May 21, 1970, at Detroit’s Club Mozambique, this was shelved and remained unreleased until it was retrieved for CD issue in 1995. It’s odd that Blue Note decided to sit on it for so long, because it ranks as one of Lonnie‘s better sets. The band, featuring George Benson on…