Matthew Posted September 23, 2003 Report Share Posted September 23, 2003 Red Holloway - Coast to Coast (click to buy) Just listened to this and it is a great cd. Red Holloway and Frank Wess are both on tenors, with Dr. Lonnie Smith (organ), Melvin Sparks (guitar), and Paul Humphrey (drum) rounding out the quintet. Just straight ahead, righteous, great jazz. This easily could have just been on of those by-the numbers sessions, but, thankfully, everyone is in peak form. Dr. Lonnie Smith is especially great is keeping the groove going in a very light, but funky way. He was the suprise for me on this disk, as I've never been overly impressed with him before (I don't have too much of him). Plays in a tasteful, understated way, but he keeps Sparks and Humphrey, dead center in the pocket. Holloway and Wess blow great, and complimemt each in a wonderful manner. In fact, all the solos on this cd are first-class in every respect. As an added plus, RVG is manning the boards for the recording, making the sound primo in every sense. So, if you love organ jazz, straight ahead jazz, tenor battles, or just music, buy this cd, you won't go wrong. It might be traditional jazz, but as Heywood Broun said: "There is still a kick in style, and tradition carries a nasty wallop." And that is what "Coast to Coast" has in abundance -- style and a nasty wallop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Stream Posted September 24, 2003 Report Share Posted September 24, 2003 This one looks really, REALLY good to me. Glad to hear the nice report. I ordered mine from CD Universe and should be getting it by the end of the week I hope. Thank God that Bob Porter is still around to get these kinds of sessions out on the market. W/o him I doubt we'd be getting this kind of great music from vets like Red and Frank who dig riding with the b/3. A few standards, a blues, ballad....nothing mind blowing. Just good playing. I love this sort of thing. We need more of this feel good music in life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted September 24, 2003 Report Share Posted September 24, 2003 You got that right! I can’t wait to pick this up. Sounds like it’s every bit as good as Red’s last battle, Keep That Groove Goin’ with Plas Johnson (also featuring Melvin Sparks, Bob Porter, and RVG)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Stream Posted September 30, 2003 Report Share Posted September 30, 2003 Just got this today. GET IT!!!!! This is some great stuff. And it got me to thinking what a shame it is we don't get more of this from these guys. As healthy as the organ scene is now (and it is very healthy in my estimation), these are the cats that can REALLY play this stuff. Paul Humphries, Melvin Sparks....Red, Frank...and Lonnie. You know, they're all playing better than ever. Also the SOUND of this one is great. RVG did all the recording, mixing, editing and mastering (24). And he did a WONDERFUL job. It has a touch too much lowend at times imho, but otherwise is fantastic. I'm so glad Rudy, Bob Porter and this band is still around, working and making things that sound as great in 2003 as they did in 1964. This ranks right up there with many of the best Prestige organ sides imho. Get it if you can. I want to see these guys still financially able to continue this great work. And that can only happen with some SALES damn it~! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted September 30, 2003 Report Share Posted September 30, 2003 I'm on it like a blue bonnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeb Posted October 3, 2003 Report Share Posted October 3, 2003 I just picked this up, and I have to echo the posts so far on this thread ... this session is so greasy, it might just slide right out of your CD player! I seriously have to say it is one of the best new releases I have heard this year. To think these gentlemen, who are well into their "golden years" (isn't Frank Wess in his 80s?), can still lay down grooves like this is very comforting. Thanks to all involved in this milestone (no pun intended!), and a big thank you to Fantasy for releasing it! I second Soul Stream's words: buy this if at all possible, and let these cats lay down some more grooves for another disc! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted October 4, 2003 Report Share Posted October 4, 2003 Did any of you guys dig the Red Holloway/Plas Johnson album that came out a couple years ago? The name ecapes me, but it was good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted October 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2003 That MONSTER of a cd was called: Keep That Groove Going, and, boy, did they ever! "Go Red Go" is something that you have to hear to believe -- it will blast you out of your chair completely! Yeah, I kind of like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted October 5, 2003 Report Share Posted October 5, 2003 Holy cow, YES!!!! Keep That Groove Goin' is all sorts of outstanding!!! That's why I'm so excited about this new Holloway disc. I heard "Go Red Go" on the radio on the way to work one morning, and had it ordered by the end of the day. I am so glad they still make records like this these days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted October 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted October 5, 2003 I've never heard a bad rendition of "Go Red Go", it just kicks ass each and every time. Thanks Arnett Cobb! B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alankin Posted October 7, 2003 Report Share Posted October 7, 2003 Frank Wess will be 82 on Jan 4th! I'm amazed at how many recordings he's turned up on in the last year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted October 7, 2003 Report Share Posted October 7, 2003 That MONSTER of a cd was called: Keep That Groove Going, and, boy, did they ever! "Go Red Go" is something that you have to hear to believe -- it will blast you out of your chair completely! Yeah, I kind of like it. Yeah! Now that's what I call good driving music. Lately, I've been seeing Keep That Groove Going for budget prices, but it's one of those rare discs that's actually WORTH 17 or 18 bucks new. It also proves that the shopworn concept of the "tenor battle" blowing album is quite viable in this day and age if the tenorists involved are dedicated to making actual music! I'll be looking for Coast to Coast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted November 21, 2003 Report Share Posted November 21, 2003 I just heard "Still Groovin'" on KNTU.... this track tells me that COAST TO COAST is every bit as good & greeeeazy as KEEP THAT GROOVE GOIN'. I have GOTS to get this one. TODAY dammit!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted November 21, 2003 Report Share Posted November 21, 2003 This one's in the CD player in the car, and I just know that before I swap out those CDs, I'm gonna give it another listen, or three! Just terrific stuff, I love Red's vocal especially. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted June 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 I've been listening to this a lot lately, and it's such a beautiful cd. BUY IT!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Posted June 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 Think I'm going to have to write a big, honking post on this cd in the next couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 Glad Matthew upped this thread. "Coast to coast" is a great album BUT It seems to have been the last. The only Fantasy artist who seems to have recorded since Concord took over is Sonny Rollins. What's happened? My guess is that Concord has sacked everyone who worked for Fantasy, which is now simply going to be mined for its catalogue. (I hate Concord - but you knew that, didn't you?) MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheldonm Posted June 8, 2006 Report Share Posted June 8, 2006 Red is going to be in Indianapolis in another three weeks, I look forward to seeing/hearing him. m~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzman4133 Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Thanks to all who raved about this album. It's indeed a "ccoker". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Al Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Hate to be a party pooper, but this album did absolutely nothing for me. In fact, it was quite a letdown after the roaring Keep That Groove Goin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 S'okay MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 I've been listening to this a lot lately, and it's such a beautiful cd. BUY IT!!! I should have bought it when it was on sale for dirt cheap at Amoeba a couple of years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted June 13, 2006 Report Share Posted June 13, 2006 Glad Matthew upped this thread. "Coast to coast" is a great album BUT It seems to have been the last. The only Fantasy artist who seems to have recorded since Concord took over is Sonny Rollins. What's happened? My guess is that Concord has sacked everyone who worked for Fantasy, which is now simply going to be mined for its catalogue. (I hate Concord - but you knew that, didn't you?) MG As a Massachusetts town, I quite like Concord. As a label, well.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Alfredson Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 I finally got this one (plus "Keep That Groove Going") and it's a fun date. I have listen to KTGG yet... I'm enjoying The Turbantor's organ work on this one too much right now! Man, does he sound like J.O.S. a few times on here, right down to that semi-sloppy but full of feel phrasing. Fun stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Stream Posted June 19, 2006 Report Share Posted June 19, 2006 Funny, I pulled this one out yesterday for my trip to Houston. I've always dug this one a lot, Lonnie's killing and Melvin Sparks is just badass. The twin tenors of Plas and Red...well...they don't make 'em like that anymore. Avalon is burning. Lonnie makes everything sound like THAT was the way it was meant to be. I love hearing him on standards. He's pushed so much in the funk catagory on his own albums these days, that when he does a sideman recording such as this, I'm always "all ears." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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