Two Mid-70s Albums by the Funky Organist Reissued on One CD. Other Musicians Include Bernard Purdie, Cornell Dupree, Melvin Sparks, Houston Person, Idris Muhammad, etc.
The names on this album alone should give you a clear idea what's going on... Produced by Bob Porter, Houston Person and Cecil Bridgewater heading up the horns, Melvin Sparks - - guitar, Idris Muhammad, drums, Bobby Caldwell - - Congas, and "kudos" to Lou Donaldson and the folks over at Prestige - - and that's just from the first LP on this this 2 LPs on 1 CD - - for the second part add the likes of Bernard Purdie, Cornell Dupree, arrangements by Horace Ott. - - and oh yeah, Rudy Van G. is in the house ! Fans of the funky Hammond B-3 sound of the early '70s forged by the likes of Lonnie Smith, Reuben Wilson, Leon Spencer and Charles Earland, will definitely dig this CD from the slick wa wa guitar lines, the crisp ultra bumpin' conga rhythms, Idris's slick funk beats, the screaming sax solos - - and Ceaser's groovin' stabs on that B-3 of his... and he even takes a stab not only at a bunch of originals but a few choice funk/soul classics ready from day one from the B-3 - - dig Ellie's Love Theme from Shaft, Runnin' Away and Stevie Wonder's Livin' for The City - - and Charles Earlandish rendition of Make It With You. The rippin horn' heavy Mighty Mouse and ultra Groovin' Funk It Down original by Frazier himself are juicy funk classics in themselves. If this CD does not meet your definition of true blue Dolo-matic funk - - heaven help ya' !
I heard Caesar Frazier's cover of "Hickey Burr" (written by Bill Cosby and Quincey Jones!) on a BGP compilation CD earlier this year and was impressed enough to seek out an entire CD by Frazier. This was my choice. And if Eddie Landsberg, a reviewer I trust, recommends it, you know it's going to be mighty good. The review by OrganJazzMan also covers the basics, but actually that review is comprised solely of the 1999 liner notes by Dean Rudland that come with this CD!
Whatever the case, I'm very glad I bought this CD. This one is a delight for anyone who likes that 1970s organ jazz sound, the sort of stuff that Eddie already mentioned, like Lonnie Smith, Reuben Wilson, and Charles Earland. And Frazier has the chops and the grooves to rank up there with those guys too. Of course it helps that he had such excellent musicians playing with him (see Eddie's review for the full cast). In addition to "Hickey Burr," the first track on this set, I loved the covers of "Summer Breeze" and "Living For the City." Both tunes are recognizable, but with some funky twists.
There are also a few more cover tunes on here (by Isaac Hayes, David Gates of Bread, and Sly Stone), but the original material by Frazier is quite fun and creative. He may not be as inventive or awe-inspiring as a great like Jimmy Smith, but I really do like his sound and I’d love to hear more of this guy’s music.