All Categories — LPs  

A great example of why Little Milton was always one of the few Chicago blues artists who could also break strongly in the soul camp at the time – and a beautifully balanced set that perfectly shows both sides of the Chicago scene of the time! Production is by old Vee Jay maestro Calvin Carter, and arrangements by Gene Barge, who manages to slide effortlessly between blues and soul on the set – almost pushing Milton into Tyrone Davis territory, but keeping things a bit more rougher and down home on some of the other numbers. The sound is wonderful – very deep and rich, and with a sound that's head and shoulders above most other albums of this type in the late 60s. Titles include "Baby I Love You", "If Walls Could Talk", "Things That I Used to Do", "Let's Get Together", "I Play Dirty", "Blues Get Off My Shoulder", "I Don't Know", and "Poor Man".

A classic Chicago crossover of blues and soul – a wonderful album from Little Milton, and one that's cut with some of the same sophisticated overtones as work by Bobby "Blue" Bland at the time! The backings here are superb – arranged by Phil Wright and James Carter with a fair bit of larger, jazzier horns – which stand in nice contrast to Milton's rougher-edged vocals – all in a blend that's completely sublime! The rhythms echo a fair bit of the Chicago soul modes of the time – nicely stepping along with a really slinky groove – and titles include some great originals, like "Ain't No Big Deal On You", "Life Is Like That", "Can't Hold Back The Tears", and "We're Gonna Make It".

A beautiful little record from Hector Lavoe – one deepens his sound and emotion, but manages to do so without going into any schmaltzy territory! Some tracks here are full-on groovers, and others are mellower – but even these have a depth of feeling that really commands our attention – a style that's perhaps almost a re-emergence of a new Latin soul aesthetic in the mid 80s – one that's certainly far more Latin than soul, but a new level of expression that's filled with feeling, and which really puts things on the line. Jose Madera, Isidro Infante and Luis Ramirez share arranging credits and Johnny Pacheco directed the recording – with a groove that's somewhere in the trombone-led style of Hector's work with Willie Colon, but which also has some rootsier elements in the guiro and guitar used on the set. Players include Joe Torres on piano, Milton Cardona on percussion, and Lewis Kahn on trombone – and tracks include "De Que Tamano", "Don Fulano De Tal", "La Fama", "Cancer", and "Porque No Puedo Ser Feliz".

A great little 80s album by Manny Oquendo's Libre group – recorded after their classic Salsoul LPs, but every bit as great! The group are in incredible form – very tight, with loads of jazzy touches, and an approach to the groove that won't quit. Players include Andy Gonzalez, Jerry Gonzalez, Steve Turre, Dave Valentin, and Milton Cardona – and the tracks are all long enough to allow the players plenty of space to express themselves. Arrangements are by Marty Sheller, Andy Gonzalez, and Manny Oquendo – and tracks include "Que Humanidad", "Elena Elena", "Bailala Pronto", "Llora Timberto", and a great version of "Little Sunflower".

A unique mid 60s Chess session from Muddy Waters – one with a very different feel than usual, and a good dose of soul too! As you might guess from the title, Muddy gets some full backings on this set – not exactly a large brass section, but a set of Chicago soul-styled backings handled by Gene Barge and Charles Stepney – grooves which, when mixed with his own bluesy guitar and vocals, creates a feel that's a bit like some of the Little Milton Chess work from the same time. Titles include "Hard Loser", "Going Back To Memphis", "Trouble In Mind", "Sweet Little Angel", and "Take My Advice".

A nice disco record from Hamilton Bohannon. The album mainly contains uptempo dance numbers but there are a few slower songs like "Daddy's Little Son" – a dedication to his son whose picture is on the cover of the album. The other tracks are "Andrea", "But What Is A Dream", "Bohannon's Disco Symphony", "Isn't It A Beautiful Morning", "Just Doing My Thang", and "Moving Fast". Some of Bohannon's original band members like Ray Parker, Jr. turn up playing guitar on some of the songs.

Duke Ellington and Mary Poppins? Sounds like a terrible combination – but it's actually pretty darn great! You see, the key words in the title are "plays with" – as Duke takes the core score of the film and, working with Billy Strayhorn, comes up with some groovy little tunes that really depart from the originals – and become perfect backdrops for the modern Ellington genius of the 60s. Solo work on the set is by Jimmy Hamilton, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Cootie Williams, and Harry Carney – and overall, the album's got that nice punchy feel of Ellington's other Reprise sides – and makes especially nice use of the modal quality of some of the tunes from the film. Titles include "Jolly Holiday", "The Life I Lead", "I Love To Laugh", "Stay Awake", "Chim Chim Cheree", and "Feed The Birds".

Hodges leads a large group of Ellington players that includes Willie Cook, Clark Terry, Cat Anderson, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney, Ray Nance, and Jimmy Woode. The overall sound has that Ellington-minus-Ellington, plus-Hoges feel of similar Verve sessions like these – with lots of nice strong Hodges tenor work in the foreground. Titles include "Digits", "Viscount", "Segdoh", "An Ordinary Thing", and "Little Rabbit Blues".

It may be Dixie, but the groove here is plenty darn unique – thanks to some great percussion work by Chico Hamilton, in a mode that really transforms the sound of the set! Yank's definitely playing with a trad jazz sound on his horn, but Chico's rhythms have plenty of bossa nova and Latin touches – all of which bring in a very groovy sort of 60s sound to the record – that "old is new again" style that showed up often in some of the best jazz/easy crossover albums of the time, including a good number handled by Bob Thiele, who put together this tasty little record. Cutty Cutshall and Pee Wee Russell are also working on horns alongside Lawson – but the real charm is the rhythm section, which also includes Bucky Pizzarelli and Willie Bobo! Titles include "Bossa Nova Noche", "Daydream", "Ka Boom Boom", "Tijuana", "Where Did I Find You", and "I Cried In The Night".

Lovely work from Charles Lloyd – recorded at the point when he was just pushing off from Chico Hamilton's group, and before he got too noodly for his own good! Side one of the record features Lloyd with his own group – jazzing it up in a mix of flute, guitar, and percussion on a number of short tracks that have a light and breezy feel. There's a nice dose of bossa in the set, plus some of the other freer rhythmic styles that Lloyd and Hamilton experimented with together at the time – but all of the tracks have a strong rhythmic pulse, and never lose their groove for too much experimentation. Side two features two wonderful tracks with Hamilton's group at a point when Lloyd was still working with the ensemble – both long tracks with a modal pulse and a great deal of spirituality – again free, but never too much so! A nice little album – with tracks that include "Island Blues", "Carcara", "Long Time Baby", "One For Joan", and "Freedom Traveler".

A classic live album by Gerry – featuring one set of tracks recorded in Stockton, CA in 1954, with Chico Hamilton, Red Mitchell, and Jon Eardley; and another recorded in San Diego the same year, with Zoot Sims, Bob Brookmeyer, Larry Bunker, Red Mitchell, and Eardley. Gerry even plays a bit on the piano, despite its absence from his other work – and titles include "Western Reunion", "Little Girl Blue", "Blues Going Up", and "The Red Door".