Recorded live at Club Mozambique, Detroit, on May 21, 1970, finally released in 1995.
Best known for his work in the bands of George Benson and Lou Donaldson, master of the Hammond B-3 Lonnie Smith leads his own group on this release. A hot live session of solid jazz-funk-soul grooves (heavy on the funk) featuring a great band:
Smith - organ
Dave Hubbard - tenor saxophone
Ronnie Cuber - bass
George Benson - guitar
Joe Dukes - drums
Gary Jones - conga
Clifford Mack - tambourine
Sounds like everybody was having a great time and I'm sure the crowd in attendance couldn't hold still. Complete liner notes available here.
Focusing on soul-jazz reissues, Blue Note introduced its Rare Groove Series in 1995 as a somewhat belated response to the acid jazz scenes in England. Of this initial bunch of releases, CMJ New Music Report labeled this album as "the best of the bunch." I'm not in the market for the other releases in the series, but ya never know.
Peak on the US Billboard Top 200 chart: Did not chart
Tracks: 6 of the 8 tracks are credited to Smith, plus two covers of familiar tunes. I don't believe the credits are entirely accurate because the lead track is a James Brown tune, but writing credits don't concern me much as a listener. Most grooves are reminiscent of Brown or The Meters. Of the originals, my top picks are I Can't Stand It and Scream, while Benson's best solo is on Track 5, Love Bowl. Track 2, Expressions, is more bebop than funk, but the band certainly cooks. My least favorite track is Peace Of Mind, partially because of the misogynistic lyrics and partially because Smith sings when he should stick to organ. The album closes with a great cover of Sly Stone's Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) followed by a frantic take on Miles Davis's Seven Steps to Heaven.
Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None
Previously revisited for the blog:
Evolution (2016)
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