A killer concert all the way through – and a great showcase for the CTI sound! Although the genius of the CTI
label might be often thought of in a studio format – especially since the Creed Taylor Influence on the
label is what really turned the sound into something wonderful – this live set from 1971 shows that the
label's players, with the right frame of mind, can easily get into the CTI groove in any setting – soaring out in a magical blend of acoustic and electric instrumentation, really stretching out on some killer long tracks! The group's a great all-star one – with organ and electric piano by Johnny Hammond, guitar by George Benson, flute by Hubert Laws, trumpet by Freddie Hubbard, tenor by Stanley Turrentine, and percussion by Airto – and all tracks are long, and very free-flowing. Titles include "
Red Clay", "Sugar", "Blues West", "Leaving West", and "Fire & Rain".
(Yellow label stereo pressing with Van Gelder stamp. Includes the CTI inner sleeves. Cover has some ring and edge wear, remnants from an index label at the top right, gloss peel at the top seam, and is faded at the spine.)