Bubba Sparx

Carmen McRae - Live at Bubba's (1981) {Starburst CDSB1004 rel 2000}
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© 1981, 2000 Who's Who In Jazz / TKO Magnum Music / Starburst | CDSB 1004
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Bop / Standards / Soul Jazz

On this CD, Carmen McRae is featured in a live set recorded in 1981 at Bubba's, a Ft. Lauderdale nightclub. Accompanied by a very compatible trio, including Marshall Otwell (her regular pianist of the time), bassist Jim Andron, and drummer Mark Pulice, McRae is in good form as she mixes timeless standards and a few pop songs of the day. Her vocals are confident and seem effortless, revisiting old friends such as "That Old Black Magic," a Latin-flavored "I Concentrate on You," a rapid-fire "Thou Swell," a miniature "If I Were a Bell," and an extended interpretation of the tender ballad "My Foolish Heart."

At first glance, it's easy to see why this late-period Sonny Stitt date could have fallen through the cracks. Recorded at Bubba's Jazz Restaurant in Florida on November 11, 1981, one year before the tenor saxophonist passed away, the set list depends on several pleasant yet rudimentary standards that these musicians could play in their sleep. Fortunately, the majority of these cuts find Stitt with fellow tenor man Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, who more than hold their own with a combined spontaneity and playfulness that are anything but boring. These 11 tracks are spirited, straight-ahead bebop with excellent versions of "Oh, Lady Be Good," "What's New," "There Is No Greater Love," "Lester Leaps In," Stitt's original "Sonny's Blues," and the Miles Davis tune "Four." The first-rate rhythm section alongside Stitt, "Lockjaw," and "Sweets" consists of Eddie Higgins on piano, Donn Mast on bass, and Duffy Jackson on drums.

Although Ahmad Jamal's recording career was erratic at this period, his live performances were as good as his earlier work. Teamed up with bassist Sabu Adeyola and drummer Payton Crossley, Jamal interprets a diverse program highlighted by "Waltz for Debbie" and "I've Never Been In Love Before," although recording "People" was probably a mistake.

KYUSS and FU MANCHU legend Brant Bjork is back with a brand new record. The godfather of desert rock has unveiled the hotly anticipated details about his thirteenth solo album, titled "Mankind Woman", set to be released September 14 on Heavy Psych Sounds Records.

An album from Luther Allison's long-standing bandleader of the last several years. Released a few months after Allison's death, the album can be taken as a tribute album by Solberg of sorts to his old boss. Utilizing a strong, distorted tone throughout, Solberg keeps Luther's high-energy approach alive on a batch of shuffles ("Bubba's Boogie," "Must Be a Reason"), slow blues ("L.A. Blues," "Ballad of a Thin Man"), and uptempo rockers ("Wally World U.S.A.," "Rhumba Juice"). Midtempo shuffles abound in tracks like "A Closer Walk with Thee," "Robb's Souffle" and the closing "Happy Snails." The music on this record is heartfelt and inspired, a moving tribute. Fans of Allison's final work will say his memory is well served here.

McCoy Tyner - Dimensions (1983) {Collectables COL-CD-6598 rel 2005}
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© 1983, 2005 Elektra Musician / Collectables | 60350-1-E / COL-CD-6598
Jazz / Post Bop / Piano

On this long out of print LP from the defunct Elektra Musician label, (reissued on CD by Collectables in 2005), pianist McCoy Tyner is featured in one of his strongest groups, a quintet with altoist Gary Bartz, violinist John Blake, bassist John Lee, and drummer Wilby Fletcher. A transitional set between Tyner's adventurous Milestone albums and his later repertoire (which falls in the tradition but still sounds quite original), this album has two standards ("Prelude to a Kiss" and "Just in Time"); Bartz's tribute to Thelonious Monk ("Uncle Bubba"); and one original apiece by Tyner, Blake, and Lee. Excellent music.

Charles Williams - Stickball (1972) {P-Vine Japan PCD-23934 rel 2007}
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© 1972, 2007 Mainstream Records / P-Vine Japan | PCD-23934
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Jazz Funk / Saxophone

Full-on funky backings for saxophonist Charles Williams – a set that almost has him in the same territory as Stanley Turrentine during his late 70s years on Fantasy Records, or Hank Crawford over at Kudu! The style here is a bit more lush than some of the other Mainstream Records dates of the time – full backings arranged and conducted by Ernie Wilkins – always plenty darn soulful, and built around a mix of strings and jazzier instrumentation – set up with the care and precision of a hip soul soundtrack, and topped by well-crafted alto sax solos by Williams. Other players include Chris Woods on baritone sax, Bubba Brooks and Frank Wess on tenor, Don Pullen on organ, Paul Griffin on electric piano, David Spinozza on guitar, and Ray Barretto on congas.