Search - Willis Jackson & Pat Martino :: Gravy

Booty Shaking Soul Jazz...

Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 11/30/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Actually, Willis Jackson recorded a whole string of albums with a young Grant Green/George Benson'ish sounding guitarist named Pat Azaria... Hmmmmm... whatever happened to him? Oh I know... he changed his name to PAT MARTINO... and it is to this element that I'm so disappointed that PRESTIGE hasn't capitalized on the fact that Pat Martino is still highly popular, and Willis Jackson was THE greatest boppin' wailing tenor/small hard groovin' soul Jazz organ combo leader of all time... PERIOD... Fact is this: If this session appeals to you, there are stacks of others like it, and FANTASY is just sitting on it. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, if you read this review, call FANTASY (who distributes the Prestige label) and tell 'em to FREE WILLIS.



As for the line-up...

Frank Robinson (tp)

Willis Jackson (ts)

Carl Wilson (org)

Pat Martino (g)

Joe Hadrick (d)



Though you may not recognize some of the other names, trust me... once you hear the album you'll start looking for those players on other albums... Carl Wilson cooks like McDuff... Hadrick is a hard swinger in the Blue Note Joe Dukes/Ben Dixon tradition - - Frank Robinson is also a powerful trumpet player who really brings a screamin' boppish life, especially at the peak of the tune... the so called "shout choruses" when he and Jackson start blowing lines together. - - As for Martino, I really like his comping... really slick and pushes the groove and his solos are like a lighted match the butt... Finally, its interesting to note that although the album is not live, it REALLY feels like it which is what makes it so great and fun !



If you like this album, check out some of the other great organ/tenor combo albums I've reviewed on album... Though Maceo and Lou are cool in my book there's a whole slew of stuff that are way up to par, if not beyond some of that, and its sad how so few people are paying attention to it... Oh well, I can only hope that my review sheds a bit of light, if not for a second...



This album incidentally is a combination of GREASE AND GRAVY and THE GOOD LIVE (please correct me if I'm wrong.)



It was recorded in May of 1963."