Lou Donaldson > Ode to Billie Joe
Composed by Bobbie Gentry
“It’s Your Thing” I understand. What else but “Who’s Making Love”? “Say it Loud - I’m Black and I’m Proud” Of course! All perfectly logical Lou covers.
But Ode to Billie Joe?! (And you bet your good gracious butt it’s funky).
What Was That? Week #7
Legends of Soul Jazz #5
Legends of the Saxophone #10
Cover #53
Willis Jackson > In The Alley
Composed by Willis Jackson
Is there anyone more soulful than “Gator Tail”? I think not.
Grover Washington, Jr. > Inner City Blues (Make Me Want To Holler)
Composed by Marvin Gaye
I guess it’s actually Soul Jazz Week, Horn Edition, since I’ve avoided organists altogether, but I’ll save them until next time.
Soul Jazz Week #6
Legends of Soul Jazz #10
Legends of the Saxophone #14
Cover #35
Hank Crawford > Mr. Blues
RIP December 21, 1934 – January 29, 2009
Eric Homan just let me know that in the last couple of weeks we’ve lost two of the key soul jazz legends of the Ray Charles Orchestra.
Soul Jazz Week #5
Legends of Soul Jazz #9
Legends of the Saxophone #13
David “Fathead” Newman (& Ray Charles) > Hard Times
RIP February 24, 1933 – January 20, 2009
Eric Homan just let me know that in the last couple of weeks we’ve lost two of the key soul jazz legends of the Ray Charles Orchestra.
Soul Jazz Week #4
Legends of Soul Jazz #8
Legends of the Saxophone #12
Lee Morgan > The Sidewinder
Composed by Lee Morgan
The liner notes (by leading stuffy jazzbo Leonard Feather) make it clear, this record is just another (quality) Blue Note hard bop session. It’s not supposed to be a for-the-ages smash hit.
Soul Jazz Week #3
Legends of Soul Jazz #7
Legends of the Trumpet #3
Stanley Turrentine > Sugar
Composed by Stanley Turrentine
Stanley did everything (straight jazz, soul, ballads) so well and so commercially that all the jazzbos take him for granted* (me included) or dismiss him entirely. Creed Taylor figured out how to put it all together in Sugar.
Soul Jazz Week #2
Legends of Soul Jazz #6
Legends of the Saxophone #11
* Check out his paltry Wikipedia entry, and then, to find out what’s what listen to this great NPR profile.
Lou Donaldson > Alligator Boogaloo
“Everything I Play is Funky” says Lou Donaldson. He is sooooo right.
Soul Jazz Week #1
Legends of Soul Jazz #5
Legends of the Saxophone #10
Poster & illlustration by Robertlan Borges
Jack McDuff > A Change is Gonna Come
Composed by Sam Cooke
I heard a report from the London Obama gathering (amazing in itself, yes?) that A Change is Gonna Come was their anthem of the night. Just like us. This version from Brother Jack is rarely heard, and a nice change up.
Hope & Change Week #6
Legends of the Organ #1
Covers #27
Legends of Soul Jazz #4
