James Brown Plays Lee Morgan?

[Vincent, Paris]

Is the "Side Winder" recorded by James Brown (on organ) on the album "James Brown Plays James Brown, Today and Yesterday" (11 instrumentals) on Smash is Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder"?

http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/i/jb-escape/jbdi...o/TODAY-LP.html

[Harold_Z]

Yes - same tune.

That's one of JB's Jazz records. I like it - It's for real in that the players are involved with what they're playing - they are NOT mailing it in. Its not about the strongest chops or most involved changes. JB plays "enough" organ to get across his groove.

Back in the 60s many R&B or show bands played a lot of this type of material to open shows or as "warm up" numbers for the band. A lot of musicians who did not get the oppoortunity to play jazz full time were able to get there jollies in this way.

Besides all that - the band grooves.

Edited July 29, 2004 by Harold_Z

[bertrand]

What's the recording date on this session?

Thanks,

Bertrand.

[JSngry]

Back in the 60s many R&B or show bands played a lot of this type of material to open shows or as "warm up" numbers for the band. A lot of musicians who did not get the oppoortunity to play jazz full time were able to get there jollies in this way.

I've told the story before, but to amplify this comment, I'll tell it again.

Somewhere around 1976 or so, I went to see Ray Charles at the Lonhorn Ballroom here in Dallas. It was a full 4 hour gig, and there was nobody else on the bill, so Ray's orchestra, a full sized big band, served as one of the "opening acts" and did a full hour set by themselves. The book was a mix of funky jazz (Herbie's "Butterfly" still rings in my memory), ballads, and straight ahead swing. No bullshit, just a variety of solid big band type stuff. The soloists stretched out at lenght, and it was a very satisfying experience. Come to find out years later that amonst those soloists were Don Wilkerson & Johnny Coles!

For that matter, when I do a "chitlin' circuit" gig, the opening numbers, before the main vocalist comes out, are always instrumentals, usually a shuffle blies and a couple of funky, Grover-esque type numbers. The players aren't always "jazz" musicians per se, but they can play this stuff just fine, and they enjoy the chance to play "beyond" what's going to be coming up for the rest of the night. Truth be told, the people dig it too - it's a bit of "class" and variety for them as well, something that gives the overall experience of the evening a bit of texture and puts the night on a curve or arc, so to speak.

The tradition lives on.

[Dmitry]

Back in the 60s many R&B or show bands played a lot of this type of material to open shows or as "warm up" numbers for the band. A lot of musicians who did not get the oppoortunity to play jazz full time were able to get there jollies in this way.

I've told the story before, but to amplify this comment, I'll tell it again.

Somewhere around 1976 or so, I went to see Ray Charles at the Lonhorn Ballroom here in Dallas. It was a full 4 hour gig, and there was nobody else on the bill, so Ray's orchestra, a full sized big band, served as one of the "opening acts" and did a full hour set by themselves.

Coincidentally, I have a 1970 Ray Charles Orchestra LP titled My Kinda Jazz, and Sidewinder closes Side 1.

No personnel listed.

Just played it. Damn, the orchestra sounds prime. Does anyone have the personnel listing? Some major soul-infused solos there. Something tells me Quincy Jones was involved.

Edited July 29, 2004 by Dmitry

[Harold_Z]

Bertrand, going by memory, I'd say that came out around 1966 or so.

[Chuck Nessa]

Is the "Side Winder" recorded by James Brown (on organ) on the album "James Brown Plays James Brown, Today and Yesterday" (11 instrumentals) on Smash is Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder"?

Bruyninckx says this was recorded in 1965. He also says no keyboards are audible in Sidewinder.

[mikeweil]

Coincidentally, I have a 1970 Ray Charles Orchestra LP titled My Kinda Jazz, and Sidewinder closes Side 1.

No personnel listed.

Just played it. Damn, the orchestra sounds prime. Does anyone have the personnel listing? Some major soul-infused solos there. Something tells me Quincy Jones was involved.

This was reissued on CD by Rhino as a bonus to Genius + Soul = Jazz:

Ray Charles vocals, piano

Bobby Bryant & Blue Mitchell trumpet

Glen Childers trombone

Curtis Peagler alto sax

Andy Ennis, Albert McQueen & Clifford Scott tenor sax

Leroy Cooper baritone sax

J. Lloyd Miller oboe

James Markin guitar

Edgar Willis bass

unknown drums

recorded ca. 1970

No arrangers listed - but Quincy wrote the original liner notes ...

[Dmitry]

Thanks for the discographical info, Mike.