undergroundagent Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 What is everyone's impression of his Blue Note output? Ignore the complete sessions and focus only on the individual albums. Are they strong soul-jazz dates? Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 I enjoy them (generally), but don't consider them essential - and I rarely listen to them twice in the same month (if that's any indication). Sorry, I can't speak to the individual albums - as they all blur together for me, pretty much. Frankly, in terms of Wilkerson's playing (specifically his playing), I like The Texas Twister better than any of his BN output... (Not the answer you were looking for, I realize - but hey, that's par for the course.) FYI, "Texas Twister" isn't a soul-jazz date, but is much more hard-boppish. Frankly, I often wish his BN output had more of the fire and edge of "Texas Twister". Quote
Dave James Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 (edited) I can remember several years ago having a major Jones for Wilkerson's BN work, but that was only based on the mystique of OOP BN's, not for any specific musical reason. I eventually tracked down Japanese reissues of all three, but I must say this is a case where anticipation greatly exceeded realization. These are not bad albums per se, just far from memorable. For my tastes, they veer a little too close to straight up R&B. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it wasn't what I was expecting. Given Wilkerson's musical background, maybe I shouldn't have been surprised, but that didn't keep me from being a little disappointed. Up over and out. Edited October 30, 2003 by Dave James Quote
sidewinder Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 I like 'em - particularly Preach Brother ! with its line up of Wilkerson, Grant Green, Sonny Clark, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins. Nothing very profound but it grooves nicely from start to finish with oosings o' grease. Feel-good party type music. 'Dem Tambourines' sounds particularly good - I've heard this one sampled many times and used on adverts and the like (particularly that funky Grant Green riff at the beginning). Quote
undergroundagent Posted October 30, 2003 Author Report Posted October 30, 2003 Just what I wanted to hear! I'll take the plunge. I'm a grease addict! Quote
Soul Stream Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 I know those Wilkerson albums get a real lashing around these parts. I, for one, think it's an unjust accessment. Wilkerson is a monster. Plain and simple. If you're one that is only satisfied with a Coltrane, Henderson, Rollins and that ilk, then it's unfair to listen to Wilkerson with the same standards. Wilkerson is every bit the master that many of our straight-ahead jazz idols are. However, he OWNS the blues vocabulary. He's got a real pinched, individual sound that drips authenticity. I don't know. I'm kind of getting tired of the Wilkerson bashing. To each his own, I know. However, those Wilkerson Blue Notes are among the finest representation of jazz blending with R&B. A style that was the norm for bars all around the country in the 60's. If you can't get with Wilkerson, Patton, Green and Dixon playing "Easy Living" then....we'll have to agree to disagree. Those Wilkersons, sit in my mind with the best Blue Notes. Period. Who in the hell else would play "San Antonio Rose" on their Blue Note session Wilkerson played stuff like that because that's who he was. Just like Coltrane played "Blue Train," because that's what HE was. Let's seperate these stylistic differences out and get down to the heart and soul of the matter. Kept at that, those Wilkerson Blue Notes are classic. Quote
Brandon Burke Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 I like 'em - particularly Preach Brother ! with its line up of Wilkerson, Grant Green, Sonny Clark, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins. Nothing very profound but it grooves nicely from start to finish with oosings o' grease. Feel-good party type music. 'Dem Tambourines' sounds particularly good - I've heard this one sampled many times and used on adverts and the like (particularly that funky Grant Green riff at the beginning). I agree. Quote
undergroundagent Posted October 30, 2003 Author Report Posted October 30, 2003 Soul Stream — AMEN! Now that's just my kinda preachin'! Quote
sidewinder Posted October 30, 2003 Report Posted October 30, 2003 Just what I wanted to hear! I'll take the plunge. I'm a grease addict! undergroundagent - Good man. Enjoy ! soul stream - totally agree, couldn't have put it better. Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted October 31, 2003 Report Posted October 31, 2003 I have to make a rare dissent with Soul stream regarding Don Wilkerson. I did not get into his Blue Notes at all. Thought the music didn't have enough "meat." Not my cup of tea, Al; but then I think your tastes are very different from mine. Quote
Big Al Posted October 31, 2003 Report Posted October 31, 2003 It's all good stuff, nice & greasy to be sure. Great party music. Like Soul Stream said, Wilkerson OWNS this sound. But for my money, my favorite is SHOUTIN'! The Texas Twister with the Holy Trinity of Greeeeeeeaze!!!! Does it get any juicier than this? B) Quote
wolff Posted October 31, 2003 Report Posted October 31, 2003 I have: BLP 4121 Elder Don and BLP 4145 Shoutin'. Good foot tappin' stuff . Shoutin' with John Patton is my fav of the two. A bit like a Donaldson and Smith date. I'm very glad I have then and play them quite a bit. Quote
Brad Posted October 31, 2003 Report Posted October 31, 2003 I have all of his BN stuff except Preach Brother, and also have Texas Twister. Shoutin is my favorite of the BN stuff. The reason I don't have Preach Brother is just that it did nothing for me. I thought it was the weakest of his output and Sonny Clark seemed out of place to me. The best, but not BN, is Texas Twister. Great cd. Quote
Soul Stream Posted October 31, 2003 Report Posted October 31, 2003 I'm glad to see some others who are fans of Wilkerson. Thank God for Al Lion. If not for those 3 BN albums, Don's solo legacy would have been mighty slim. Another thing about those albums. Grant Green is on fire on those. Quote
JSngry Posted November 1, 2003 Report Posted November 1, 2003 Well, the Wilkerson BNs might not be toi everbody's taste, but I'd think that TEXAS TWISTER would be! That bad boy KICKS AYE-ESS! Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted November 1, 2003 Report Posted November 1, 2003 (edited) Well, the Wilkerson BNs might not be toi everbody's taste, but I'd think that TEXAS TWISTER would be! That bad boy KICKS AYE-ESS! So, everybody go get TEXAS TWISTER - it's one hell of a good CD. I got mine on the strength of Sangry's recomendation (in another thread), and was 100% happy with my purchase. Way more 'meat on the bone' than any of his BN output. Edited May 19, 2011 by Rooster_Ties Quote
undergroundagent Posted November 1, 2003 Author Report Posted November 1, 2003 I'm still going with the Blue Notes. While the dissenting opinions aren't falling on deaf ears, I'm a big fan of bluesy jazz...Texas Twister will come later, though not too late! I'm also back into George Braith...what goes around comes around I guess. Quote
Soul Stream Posted November 1, 2003 Report Posted November 1, 2003 I'm still going with the Blue Notes. While the dissenting opinions aren't falling on deaf ears, I'm a big fan of bluesy jazz...Texas Twister will come later, though not too late! I'm also back into George Braith...what goes around comes around I guess. You get a star by your name. Quote
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