The Return of Mod Jazz

by N/A

Overview

It took about five years for Ace to get from the fourth volume to the fifth one in its Return of Mod Jazz series, but this 2005 compilation upholds the high standards set by its predecessors. The two-dozen tracks represent '60s jazz at its most accessible and dance-oriented, often (though not always) emphasizing groovy organ parts and swinging piano, and mixing instrumentals with some vocal numbers. It's not the kind of stuff they'll teach in jazz history courses, but as for fun modern jazz with a liberal does of blues, soul, and pop influences, it's hard to beat. As per Ace's formula, although a bunch of the names are well known (Gene McDaniels, Timmy Thomas, George Benson, Mongo Santamaria, Bill Doggett, Johnny Otis, Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers, and Oscar Brown, Jr.), none of the tracks selected by these artists are overly familiar. As for the rest of the cuts (save Mose Allison's "I Love the Life I Live"), it's doubtful that many outside hardcore collectors of this stuff have heard them. That doesn't mean, however, that the numbers by the relative unknowns are inferior, and in fact, some of them rate among the disc's highlights. Googie Rene Combo's "Wild Bird," offers some ultra-tense, ultra-tight spooky choked organ; Kenny Rice & Leo's Five's "Hold It" has some real hot organ/R&B guitar interplay; and the Dave Davani Four's "Top of the Pops" can't fail to evoke the most jazz-oriented side of mid-'60s mod Swinging London. Of the other sides, Timmy Thomas' "Have Some Boogaloo," which predates his famous soul hit "Why Can't We Live Together" by a good five years, is a near-instrumental with garage jazz (if such a term exists) organ that shows a much different side of his music. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	07/12/2005
Label:	Kent
UPC:	0029667225021
Rank:	104383

Tracks

1. Sack O' Woe  - Cannonball Adderley  -  Bryant
2. Sweet Lover No More  - Gene McDaniels
3. Them Blues  - Ollie Jones  -  Mance  - Billie Poole
4. Bell Bottoms  - Joe Swift  -  Swift
5. Hold It  - Don James  -  Leo's Five  - Kenny Rice
6. Have Some Boogaloo  - Quinton Claunch  - Rudolph V. "Doc" Russell  - Timmy Thomas
7. East Side  - Hank Jacobs  - Arthur Wright
8. Summertime  -  Benson  - Ira Gershwin  - DuBose Heyward
9. El Pussy Cat  - Bobby Capers  - Mongo Santamaria
10. Liberation  -  Afro-Blues Quintet + 1  - Jack Fulks
11. Canteloupe Island  - Herbie Hancock  -  Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers
12. Wild Bird  - Googie Rene  - Jeanne Vikki
13. Beaver  - Clarence Armstrong
14. Twenty Five Miles  - Johnny Bristol  - Bill Doggett  - Harvey Fuqua  - Edwin Starr
15. Banana Peels  - Johnny Otis
16. Ray's Theme  - Leon Haywood  - Ray Shanklin
17. I Love the Life I Live  - Mose Allison  - Willie Dixon
18. Monkey Sho' Can Talk  - Red Holloway
19. Top of the Pops  - Dave Davani  - Harry Rabinowitz
20. Get It  -  Swingin' Tomatoes
21. Everytime, Pt. 2  -  McKnight
22. Getting into Something  -  TKO's
23. Hum Drum Blues  - Oscar Jr. Brown
24. Hide Out  -  Hideaways  - Nathaniel Nathan

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ray Bryant Combo   Primary Artist
Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers   Primary Artist
Dave Davani   Primary Artist
Mongo Santamaria   Primary Artist
Timmy Thomas   Primary Artist
Hank Jacobs   Primary Artist
Bill Doggett   Primary Artist
Johnny Otis   Primary Artist
Oscar Brown, Jr.   Primary Artist
Mose Allison   Primary Artist
Afro-Blues Quintet + 1   Primary Artist
Googie Rene   Primary Artist
Leo's Five   Primary Artist
Billie Poole   Primary Artist
Hideaways   Primary Artist
Joe Swift's Internationals   Primary Artist
Swingin' Tomatoes   Primary Artist
Clarence Armstrong   Primary Artist
Kenny Rice   Primary Artist
The T-K-O'S   Primary Artist
The George Benson Quartet   Primary Artist
Buddy McKnight   Primary Artist
Junior Mance Trio   Primary Artist
Gene McDaniels   Primary Artist
Leon Haywood   Primary Artist
Red Holloway   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Ollie Jones   Composer
Red Holloway   Composer
Michael Berniker   Producer
Harry Rabinowitz   Composer
Cannonball Adderley   Composer
Timmy Thomas   Composer
Arthur Wright   Arranger,Composer
Cal Lampley   Producer
Harvey Fuqua   Composer
Bobby Capers   Composer
Joe Swift   Composer
Johnny Bristol   Composer
Johnny Otis   Composer,Producer
Oscar Brown, Jr.   Composer
Herbie Hancock   Composer
Willie Dixon   Composer
Al Hamm   Producer
Rudolph V. "Doc" Russell   Composer,Producer
Jeanne Vikki   Composer
Jack Fulks   Composer
Don James   Arranger,Composer
Clarence Armstrong   Composer
James Carmichael   Arranger
Fred E. Smith   Producer
Nathaniel Nathan   Composer,Producer
Buddy McKnight   Composer
Teo Macero   Producer
Edwin Starr   Composer
John Hammond, Sr.   Producer
Ira Gershwin   Composer
DuBose Heyward   Composer
Dean Rudland   Liner Notes
Robert Mersey   Producer
Ray Shanklin   Composer
Quinton Claunch   Composer,Producer
Nick Robbins   Mastering