frank strozier...

[Guest akanalog]

anyone own frank strozier's steeplechase albums?

i saw a few in a store and they looked interesting. players like michael carvin and howard johnson and harold mabern...marvin gaye covers???

anyone have any feelings?

[Jim R]

It's been awhile since I've played them (WHAT'S GOIN' ON and REMEMBER ME), but my recollection is that they're good but not (IMO) great. I should spin them again, though (thanks for reminding me).

I'm a big fan of his Vee Jay material, and an even bigger fan of the Jazzland/Milestone recordings (LONG NIGHT / MARCH OF THE SIAMESE CHILDREN).

[Spontooneous]

Never less than pretty good. The version of "What's Goin' On," in 6/8, arranged by Harold Mabern, is an absolute burner.

[Guest akanalog]

whic is better? the gaye one or the other one? the other one intrigued me more due to the presensce of michael carvin and howard johnson off the bat.

[Stereojack]

It's been awhile since I've played them (WHAT'S GOIN' ON and REMEMBER ME), but my recollection is that they're good but not (IMO) great.  I should spin them again, though (thanks for reminding me).

I'm a big fan of his Vee Jay material, and an even bigger fan of the Jazzland/Milestone recordings (LONG NIGHT / MARCH OF THE SIAMESE CHILDREN).       

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I agree - Strozier is important enough, and sparsely represented on record, that everything is worth checking out, but the two Steeplechase albums are less interesting to these ears than the earlier sides. The long version of "What's Goin' On" is expendable.

[Spontooneous]

My memory is that "Remember Me" was more even in its quality. Still, the title cut of "What's Goin' On" sticks with me more than anything on either disc.

But it's been a while since I've heard them. Won't have time to re-listen this weekend, alas.

[Guest akanalog]

as far as my tastes though, i would be more interested in 70s stuff than the earlier stuff.

i have heard the siamese children two-fer. it's aight.

[Jim R]

as far as my tastes though, i would be more interested in 70s stuff than the earlier stuff.

i have heard the siamese children two-fer.  it's aight.

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Hey, that's cool. Sorry if I sidetracked your topic (just wanted to make sure you knew about those earlier dates). I'll try to spin the Steeplechases soon and let you know which one I like better (although that may not really be useful information, based on our different tastes ).

[paul secor]

Frank Strozier is on Horace Parlan's Frankly Speaking on Steeplechase, a good straight ahead date. He blows a very good solo on Idrees Sulieman's tune, "Chocolate Cadillac".

[mikeweil]

I have only "Remember Me", and always thought it a good record. You can't expect a 1970's record to sound as fresh as a 1960's date when this style was new. For its time, it's a very good record with spirited blowing.

[Peter Friedman]

I had the Strozier Steeplechase recordings at one time but disposed of them. Never considered them very good. Strozier's playing as a sideman on a variety of recordings is much better, in my opinion.