Over her fifty-plus year career, singer Maria Muldaur has released more than thirty recordings, scoring one bonafide hit with “Midnight At The Oasis” from her 1973 self-titled album. But she could have had a second hit from the same album. As she explains in her notes included in the packaging of her new release, disc jockeys across the country had another song on the album, “Don’t You Feel My Leg,” in more frequent rotation than “Oasis”. Discussions with her record company about making that song the follow-up broke down as the label considered the track too risque for the general public, a decision that certainly seems quaint today with standards that allow all kinds of potentially offensive language and sexual references on the air, even in the Oval Office at the White House. Muldaur includes an updated version of the song on her exceptional tribute to one of the tune’s writers, Louisa “Blue Lou” Barker.
This is one of the lesser entries put out by the European Classics label. Blue Lou Barker was a so-so singer who had the novelty hit "Don't You Make Me High"; all 21 of her prewar recordings are included on this CD. The more memorable moments are provided by the sidemen, which include trumpeters Red Allen and Charlie Shavers, clarinetist Buster Bailey, tenor saxophonist Chu Berry, and her husband, guitarist Danny Barker.
"Point of View" is a collaborative big band album led by Grammy Award-winning pianist and composer Steven Feifke and legendary saxophonist "Blue Lou" Marini. The record represents a dialogue between two generations of jazz musicians, uniting the experience and wisdom of veteran Marini (known for his work with The Blues Brothers, Blood, Sweat & Tears) with the modern energy and innovative approach of Feifke. The album features both new arrangements of classic compositions and original material. The sound is powerful, dynamic, and skillfully arranged big band jazz that pays homage to tradition while being filled with fresh ideas and virtuosic solos.
The master drummer Louis Hayes has been the solid beat behind jazz greats such as Oscar Peterson, Cannonball Adderley, McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard and many many others. As a leader Hayes has been known for his sharp eyes for selecting good sidemen and providing them with surroundings to develop their talents further. On this session – Louis’ fifth leader album for SteepleChase – “youngsters” Eddie Allen and Javon Jackson are featured along with veteran pianist Ronnie Mathews.The “hard bop” style of the group reminds us of the Jazz Messengers led by the late Art Blakey.