image note       view larger image

Legends Of Acid Jazz – This Is Billy Butler/Night Life

Out Of Stock

2 lost soul jazz sets from the mighty Billy Butler! This Is Billy Butler is one of the grooviest albums ever from the hip guitarist – a rock-solid session for Prestige that's filled with some amazing rhythms! The sound here is sockingly soulful, and very tight – a mixture of the jazz funk that was coming into the Prestige scene at the time, plus some of the older modes from Butler's years woodshedding in the combo of Bill Doggett. Billy's tones are both rough and smooth, depending on the tracks – and other players include Houston Person on tenor, Ernie Hayes on piano and organ, Bob Bushnell on bass, and Rudy Collins on drums. Butler uses just a bit of wah-wah effects at points – and titles include "Twang Thang", "Work Song", "Soul Roll", and "Bass-ic Blues", which also has Billy on electric bass! Night Life is an album with a very different groove than usual for Billy Butler! On this set, his guitar seems to be processed through something that sounds a bit like a wah wah pedal – although we're not quite sure, and can't find any reference to the technology in the notes. It's got a sound that's a little compressed, with a mellow groove that's different than Billy's usual plucked notes – more flowing waves of sound that snake out slyly, and wrap themselves around some mellow rhythms from the rest of the combo. Players here include Jesse Powell on tenor (although Houston Person takes over in the role on one track) – plus Johnny Hammond Smith on organ, Bob Bushnell on Fender bass, and Jimmy Johnson on drums. Titles include "Nightlife", "Wave", "Watch What Happens", and "Peacock Alley". (CD case has a small cutout hole.)  © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.