Soul Stream

One thing I always miss about the ol' Blue Note Board was Hardbop's live jazz reviews of the NYC scene. I go over to AAJ for that reason only. To see what's up in NYC. Gotta hand it to the guy, he's like the man on the scene who really takes time to put it into words for the rest of us. Like his perspective on jazz or not. Anyway, I wondered if he posts here in any form. If so, does he go under a different name?

If you haven't yet....pick up something with organ. Jimmy Smith is the only place to start and "The Sermon" would be the one I'd suggest to you. Available as a relatively inexpensive RVG and along with it's sister album "House Party" is wonderful. Also includes other Blue Note greats on it such as Art Blakey and Lou Donaldson.

I really dig George Freeman. Man, that guy has a totally UNIQUE style and sound!!!! Pretty wild. George represents what used to be really cool about jazz, personality. And he has plenty of it on his instrument.

I've been listening to this session a lot lately too because of this thread. I do understand people's dislike for this session, especially initially. As I said previously, it was mine as well. Not until several years later did I become a huge fan of "Am I Blue." This happened mainly because I went back and relistened without expectations of a hard bop jazz session. I am glad that it's made many take another objective listen, whether or not it's changed minds. Always good to listen more closely to ANY Blue Note date imho. Alfred must have issued it for a reason. Especially considering the many shelved dates we know of that are very, very good.

Honestly haven't had time to watch the entire tape. I don't know if I'd recognize Clay unless he solos, which I haven't seen thus far.

Just picked this new release DVD up at borders for 15 bucks. 2 television appearances in Brazil...lengthy....with the full badass band and raylettes...fathead too. GET THIS NOW~!~~~~~

Grant Green, John Patton and Ben Dixon "pretending" to be gospel musicians..... To each his own, but I'd say these three are probably the 3 least likely jazz musicians to ever 'pretend' to play gospel. I mean Grant did a whole LP called "Feeling The Spirit." And if you ever want to hear some good gospel organ playing by John Patton, check out "Holy Ghost" on Lou Donaldson's "Good Gracious" LP. Larry Goldings and Peter Bernstein might come off as inauthentic in this setting, not Patton and Green imho.

Agree on all counts. The Waters are just simply produced with a higher level of detail and quality.

I'm gathering mine to throw now.... One of the all-time great organ dates ever made.

Damn right!!!!

Is it just me, but does anybody else wonder why a Blakey title is a near certainty with almost any given batch of RVGs? Personally, I'd like to see a change-up every now and then from that.

Yes, beautiful music has that ability.

I dig this very early stuff as well. Love the 10' series CDs from a few years back. I guess all in all I'd rather see these titles than reissue of albums that have readily been available on CD in the last few years. As seems to be the case with so much BN reissue product now.

From the Hammond lovers.... I would like to see an RVG of something with Baby Face Willette on it, even as a sideman. Perhaps Lou Donalson's "Here 'Tis" would be the best candidate. Love to see that as an RVG. Also, an RVG of Jimmy Smith "At The Organ" Vol. 1...that's just some plain classic Blue Note. The beginning of jazz organ as we've come to know it. Plus, with Art Blakey, Donaldson ect. laying it down. Shouldn't be a hard sell I would think. Freddie Roach....hmmm....would they even take a gamble on RVG'ng this stuff?. My vote would be the undisputed heavyweight in his catalog, "Down To Earth." It burns and I'd love to hear this remastered with Rudy's touch. Kenny Burrell's presence might help sell this a bit.

Yes, I love the idea that the Water reissues are items that we haven't seen in the U.S. or Japan for the most part in a nice CD reissue. Can't believe Say It Loud hasn't even had a Japanese appearance on CD that I know of. Seems like they've got it all over there. So these are a real nice addition. Not just an "upgrade," which I'm beginning to buy into (literally) less and less.

Wow!!!! Awesome, titles I never thought would get out under the current BN regime. Much less with the care and attention that Water gives. Great news.

Wolff, you make I point I've not come up with the words to say previously! Green, Patton and Dixon would never give this R&B-flavored material a less than first-rate effort. This is the sort of stuff these guys thrived on musically. Like Green was quoted in his biography....something to the effect of...."let's go across the street and play in the church, that's where it's really happening." My point being that although this is gospel and blues-influenced playing for the most part (ray charles anyone?), this is music these 3 dig deep into. And that's what I hear on this LP, guys digging deep. Soulful playing.

I'm not trying to pin anybody down or label people that don't like this session or think it stinks or just isn't very good. People like what they like, for whatever reasons. I understand that, and am not trying to put anybody down for not liking this stuff. Sometimes sessions just grow on you. When I first heard "Am I Blue," I had much the same reaction as most on the board. However, over the course of years it's turned into one of my favorites. Admittedly, there are many, many other more "worthy" sessions (theoritically in my mind) in the Green, Patton Dixon bag even, but for whatever reasons...I listen to this one a lot over the last couple of years. Especially late at night. So, I make no judgements. To each his own.

Although it's easy to lump "Idle Moments," "Street of Dreams" and "Am I Blue" into the same 'mellow' catagory; outside of tempos and the general atmosphere of each being laidback...."Am I Blue" is actually more of an 'R&B meets Jazz' album. Sure the vibe is mellow on all, but "Idle Moments" and "Street of Dreams" are more straight-ahead jazz albums than anything else. I think it's this fact that makes many dislike "Am I Blue." Most are looking forward to hearing a jazz, not a soul-jazz date.

Thanks Lon.

I guess I'm just insane at this point. To me, I dig Coles a lot on this session. His ability to convey emotion is in full force here. Spit valve or not, clunker note or not...Coles on "I Wanna Be Loved" is so bone-chilling expressive to me it's a shame other's don't percieve in the same way. Also, his ensemble passages with Joe are dead on, a sonic treasure (love Pearson's horn arrangements on this LP.) Anyway, I continue to dig what this session is all about. And against all hope perceive the players to be in top form (O.k, Joe may have been bored, but he plays nicely). I guess I'm living in my own world here. Oh well. And Grant just can't be beat in laying down the melody in the tradition of Lester Young and other master jazz storytellers. I'm going down with the ship here.

Bob Cranshaw. Maybe not groundbreaking enough for many, but for my money he swings like few others on the electric bass.

No doubt..."Brown Sugar" is one of the great organ dates for me!!!!! LOOOOOVVVE that one too! "The Midnight Sun Will Never Set" is a beautiful example of the type of organ/tenor/guitar mood music that is the centerpiece of "Am I Blue." That tune in particular would fit right in on that album.

Just a side note for the many that seem to think this session was some sort of marketing gimmick for Al Lion. In the Blue Note documentary, Ruth Lion is quoted as saying that when Alfred was terminally ill at home, this is the album he listened to over and over again.

I just wanted to voice my support for this LP. No big deal, I know the majority of people find this a rather dull and lifeless recording for their own reasons. However, as a musican myself, I've found a lot of lessons to be learned from repeated listenings here. That was all I wanted to say, and maybe those more on the fence about the session would give it another chance....