Search - King Curtis :: Have Tenor Sax Will Blow: Live at Small's Paradise

Long out of print recordings finally make it to CD

jonathan mernit | New York USA | 09/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"King Curtis' first recording for Atlantic Records, Have Tenor Sax, Will Blow (1959) and his first recording upon returning to Atlantic, Live at Small's Paradise (1966) together on one CD make this a dream come true for King Curtis fans.The first 11 cuts are from Have Tenor Sax, Will Blow, Atco 33-113 it contains 7 originals and as you would expect lots of great blowing. While there is a taste of the yakety yak that made King Curtis famous it's more R&B, very satisfying! In addition to King Curtis Noble Watts is on 5 tracks which gives a real nice 2 tenor sound. Also featured is the guitar work of Al Casey of Fats Waller fame and Jimmy Spruill and Joe Puma.The final 10 cuts are from Live at Small's Paradise from 1966 originally released as Atco 33-198. This band features Cornell Dupree on guitar and the recently departed Paul Griffin on keyboards along with Willie Bridges & Melvin Lastie on horns. This is recording reflects what you would have heard if you were lucky to catch King Curtis performing live at Wilt Chamberlain's Harlem club in the mid 60's. There are 3 originals 2 of which (Preach & Pots and Pans) I've never seen on CD prior to this release. Of the covers Blowin' in the Wind is a standout.It's great to have these just about impossible to find recordings finally released on CD, hats off to the folks at Collectables and lets hope this is just the begining of the King Curtis Atlantic Records being reissued."