Soul Stream

Jim, We had talked earlier about those great Patton sessions you had done. I often have a hard time communicating to sound engineers what the needs of a B3 in a jazz context (i.e. bass w/pedals, ect) are soundwise. What do you suggest as a good basic setup for micing the Leslie both in the studio and perhaps live. Do you take a direct feed off of the organ preamp as well? And if so, how do you do that exactly.... Thanks for any help you might offer.

I second the HELL out of this one. As far as stuff that wasn't really the Larry Young style we know this is the champ imho. This is Larry before he was LARRY YOUNG. But he was still a great Smith-based stylist and on this Jimmy Forrest record and he's smoking.

Like George Braith told me the other day about solos... Everyone has 3 choruses in them really, Coltrane had 4... maybe, after that they're just repeating themselves.

My thing about Eric Alexander, hey...no doubt the guy's a monster player (that's not in question)....is he doesn't seem to be a very good listener as of late. Someone sent me a live tape recently of a group with Eric....The tone of the group was pretty bluesy with each (veteran and well-known) musician taking 3 to 5 choruses per solo or thereabouts (and Eric was a sideman here, always out-soloing the leader. A big no-no imho). However, Alexander seemed oblivious and played on and on and on...10 choruses, often doubling or tripling what the others were taking. And it's not that what he's playing is so diverse either. He gets caught in these Rivers/Coltrane riffs that he digs and won't let go (a few of his pet ones are on the Blindfold test cut.) Maybe it's just a growing phase for him. I used to be a big fan of his earlier stuff. But lately, it's just like he's trying too hard to prove something. Often at the expense of others or the material. O.k.-I'm done with my little rant.

Arggh. I guess when they say end of September, the MEAN beginning of October.

Is "I Want To Hold Your Hand," "Talkin' About" and/or "Street Of Dreams" still in print??? Those are ALL top notch.

Well, if I do say so myself...I did nail #13. I didn't guess Mance, but knew it was someone of his ilk. Idris fits the bill....and yes, Eric Alexander does suck on this imho. I used to count myself a fan of his, but lately I've been reconsidering. He's really falling into cliches and gimmicks on this cut. Doesn't sound like he's playing along with the theme Junior has set down. And the bass player...well, I don't know who "Chip" is, but.... Nice job all the way around Dan. Great selection of songs and artists! Also, thought it was surprising on how many were guessed correctly.

Monk's Dream was his biggest seller...so that's why I voted for. However, I LOVE "It's Monk's Time" as well as "Monk." They're ALL F'in great!!!!

jim, you nailed number 8. I actually have this as well, but didn't remember this track. I'm still green with envy, the guitar playing really sparked my interest. I would have never guessed. Granted, it was pretty sloppy playing for him. 9. Is Teddy Edwards doing his original ballad, "Afraid of Love." He does a great version on the Jazz Scene USA video/DVD. If you don't have it...GET IT!~!!!!

Yeah, Donald Byrd sounds especially good to me. Unexpectedly so. Clarion tone.

Just picked this up tonight in the used bin. Great blowing session that I'd never heard. These Prestige blowing sessions get a lot of grief for being...well, blowing sessions. But, imho it just doesn't get a whole let better than this. Great musicians playing jazz.

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.

The problem with jazz trumpeters is that they can't get over Miles. If I want to hear Miles, there's plenty of HIS albums to buy.

I'm not sure how everyone is playing on this. I will say, using AMG, almost any song can be narrowed down to a particular song/artist. But, what the fun is that? Maybe people are or aren't doing that. I don't know. Personally, I've made an oath to myself to just go off the top of my head and not "research" these things. Like a Downbeat Blindfold Test, those guys are on the spot right then. That's what makes this interesting to me. I pulled out a Groove Holmes out of my record collection to find out a particular cut. Afterwards, I felt like I cheated since my initial guess was wrong. But like I said, I don't know what everyone's doing on this. I would just say it's more fun when you do it on the fly.

...o.k. I take what I said back about the drummer after really listening this morning. Pretty lowdown. He IS an older cat who's just laying it down hard. The pianist is obviously a master. HE is BAAAADDDDD. However, I don't dig the sax player at all. It IS a young guy. He's blowing every cliche he knows, lost in technique. And the bassist may be an older cat but I don't dig what he's doing. Maybe he's just keeping it loose and interesting, since the drummer is so super-straight and laying it down. and O.K...I could be wrong about everything. But that's half the fun it seems on these blindfold tests. At least when I read them in magazines. I like when people take a hard stand. Wrong or right it's more interesting that way. Still, can't wait to see who it is I'm bashing.

Number 12 is "I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts of Town" from Groove Holmes "A Bowl Of Soul" LP. Arranged and conducted by Onzy Matthews. Great Lp I hadn't listened to in a LONG time. Thanks Dan, great pick. ...cut 1 has got to be Gene Harris and the 3 sounds. From what album I haven't a clue, but by the great sound I would guess a Blue Note. You know it's Gene from the second he hits those ringing chords on the intro. Great stuff. No group can get this sort of thing to happen except the 3 Sounds. . 3. Is "Stand By Me" by lord knows who. 4. "Watermelon Man by "Lockjaw" Davis maybe, Les McCann on piano perhaps. 8>Since I Fell for You....has got to be McGriff with Melvin Sparks and co. from the 80's. Although McGriff doesn't solo, so that makes me think I might be wrong. But sometimes he did that on his albums from this time period. This is still a staple of McGriff's live show. 13 is "Lonely Ave" but by who....? Hmmm. The drummer needs to be kicked on this one. Must be a more recent album because the drummer is so lame, he thinks he's a jazz guy slumming it in his lame-o blues mode. He's draggin' this thing down. Stop diggin' coal!!!! And the bassist ain't helping, bored and noodling. The saxophonist sounds like Eric Alexander trying too hard. He's so overplaying on this tune it's sad. Sounds like a bunch of young guys backing up an old-timer on piano. Maybe something with Harold Maebern and those guys. This sucks. It makes me hate jazz. Jazz guys ruining the blues. If this is some authentic stuff, it's still bad. I still haven't finished listening to the whole thing....these are just a few initial thoughts.

Horace seemed to dig D flat....Bastard!

"Doodlin'" is in D flat too. To really swing a bassline in D flat on the organ is no easy feat. It's because the fingering doesn't really lay right..., it's a bitch. But like most things, it can be done if practiced over and over and over . Hey, swingin's an organ bassline in ANY key was a bitch the first time around. But there's a reason most all organ blues shuffles are in F, B flat, G, C, E flat, A flat and last (and yes, least) D flat is because that is the order of difficulty pretty much. And if you really are a badass, trying shufflin' in A natural ala' Leon Spencer on Sneak Preview....that guy was just nuts. B3-er...I'll make a pact with you...we'll both learn it in D flat and be real men about it!!!! Just a side note....McDuff said that D flat was the first key he learned to play in on the organ. Guess that's why Rock Candy was easy for him.

Just got my CD...THANKS DAN!!! Anyway, GREAT mix CD I'll be listening to and enjoying alot in the car. Other than that, I don't have much of a clue. Just gave a cursory 10 second listen to each track but nothing jumped out at me immediately yet. I only know one for sure. That's track 12, it's Groove Holmes AND he's kickin' bass too with the big band. SUPER nice stuff. I don't have the album, but it must be off that World Pacific "Welcome Home" LP from 68 or so. Great CD.

You know, I haven't heard the original in so long I forgot it's in D flat!!! NOBODY plays it in that key, not even Joey D. Which reminds me: Another great swinger, McGriff's "All About My Girl". Nobody plays that in the correct key either which is A flat. That's the key McGriff originally recorded it in. We play it in that key and my solos suck, but at least I'm learning the key!!! Someone requested "All About My Girl" the other night (I couldn't believe it), I had to confess I couldn't play it (A flat seems to be a key favored by McGriff but nobody else). I played "Kiko" instead and they seemed cool with that, but I was a bit embarrassed and have vowed to learn it in A Flat like a man! However, "Rock Candy" in Dflat...forget it. I just can't do it where it'd be interesting for anybody to listen to. Swingin' in D flat....I can dream can't I....

I'm not sure how many are hip to the Pacific Jazz LP, "After Hours" by Groove Holmes. It's really some of his finest playing imho, and one of the best organ jazz records in existence. This and "Groovin' With Jug," the live one with Gene Ammons really turned me on to Groove beyond just the cat who swung the hell out of "Misty." Groove was one hell of a JAZZ organist and "After Hours" really shows the depth of his musicianship. His version of "Moose The Mooche" is a standout among a field of winning tracks ("It Might As Well Be Spring" isn't far off.) Any other fans of this LP?

Jim, howdya like the sessions of Lem Winchester or Johnny Lytle with organ? "Tough Duff" with McDuff and Lem Winchester plus sax/drums is one of my favorite records of all time. Organ and Vibes are a match made in heaven. Plus they're two of the heaviest instruments in the world, so the must go together.

I'd love to hear an organ record that cut the difference between a quintet (like Patton's "Oh Baby") and a big-band affair. I think that would be a better blend. Even and organ trio augmented by trombone, trumpet and tenor would be a welcome addition to the usual sounds. Something like beefing up Blakey's quintet with the additon of Curtis Fuller. I've got the Basie/McGriff thing. Been a while...I'll have to dig it out. I do remember liking it very much as far as that sort of thing went.

Speaking of different organs, a relative of mine just gave me a Gulbransen Rialto from the 60's. Cost a whoppin' $6900 when it was new back in 1967 I believe. I only took it because it had a Leslie with it. Alas, the Leslie is a model 100GK. It was specifically made for the Gulbransen and is not compatable with Hammonds at all. It LOOKS just like a 122, but it has no top rotor. It was three stationary 6x9 speakers mounted behind the front louvre (and no side louvres) and a Rotosonic bass speaker (which is where the speaker itself is actually rotating, not just the baffle). I'm hoping I might be able to convert it into a 122 by finding some old parts. That would be SWEET! The cabinet is gorgeous. The Gulbransen organ, by the way, sounds like complete crap. It's out of tune (Hammond never went out of tune!!) and the sounds are really cheesy. It weighs a damn TON and it's all transistorized. Sounds like poo. How can Hammond B3/C3/A100/RT3s sound so wonderful and all other makes and models (hammond too) suck. If it wasn't for those few models, the history of the electric organ would be very, very horrible.

I too would like to hear what others think about this session. I just received it with an order and haven't yet had an opportunity to listen to it. The reissue apparently contains additional material which brings the playing time to nearly 80 minutes. I've got it on order. That said, I've heard the album at one point at wasn't all that thrilled at the time. I think the organ/big band thing is a very hard thing to make work for my tastes. Jimmy Smith and Wes had some nice turns at it, but...I dunno...(the Groove Holmes/Gerald Wilson stuff is about my personal favorite in this genre)... But I'll post when I get the CD