Jimmy Ponder

When viewed as a whole, this compilation gives an accurate overview of the way that the blues developed through the fifties. Take “Goin' Away Baby” for example: it is surely no coincidence that Muddy Waters himself played on this practical demonstration of how the Mississippi country blues sound was updated after the war to provide Chicago, and ultimately the world, with a tough new sound. Moving on to 1952 and “The Last Time”, the addition of Johnny Jones on piano combines with Jimmy's relaxed, confident vocal to give the song an assorted urban feel - this performance also clarifies why the accompanying musicians were occasionally billed on the records as "The Rocking Four".
The later recordings reveal that Jimmy had a fondness for uptempo material, culminating in success on the national R&B charts with the 1956 recording of “Walking By Myself"…

This exceptional 1978 album is significant for at least two reasons. Outside Looking In marks the first pairing of Jimmy McGriff with alto saxophonist Hank Crawford. And it also marks the last time McGriff worked with producer Sonny Lester, who guided the organist’s career for the previous dozen years. Despite being the typical LRC disco production (helmed by Brad Baker and Lance Quinn), Outside Looking In also contains some fine period music (Quinn and Baker’s "Tapioca" and Bob Babbitt’s "Dust Pan"). Overtop an array of electric keyboards and thumping electric bass, there is consistently notable soloing from McGriff (who takes at least one traditional organ solo on all pieces except "Midnight Boogie," a feature for his synthesizer and electric piano), Crawford and guitarist Jimmy Ponder (adding a funky Wes Montgomery-like touch to the proceedings)…

John Patton - Mosaic Select 6 (2003) {3CD Set Mosaic MS-006 rec 1963-1968}
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© 1963-68, 2003 Mosaic Records | MS-006 / 72435 84072 2 8
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Jazz Funk / Organ

The Mosaic Select treatment has deservedly been given to Big John Patton. There are those who argue that Patton's entire catalog should have been the subject of a Mosaic box set proper. There was easily enough material for five, if not six, CDs. There are five albums collected here. His first three, Along Came John, The Way I Feel, and Oh Baby!, were recorded in 1963, 1964, and 1965, respectively. The last two on this set are That Certain Feeling and Understanding, from 1968. Missing are Blue John, his proper second album from 1963 and unreleased until 1986, Let 'Em Roll, and Got a Good Thing Goin', released in 1965 and 1966, and his post-1968 work, Accent on the Blues, Memphis to New York Spirit (unreleased until 1996), and Boogaloo.

The Harlem Art Ensemble ft. Dr. Lonnie Smith - Live In New York (2007) {Explore Records EXP0027 rec 1990}
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© 1990, 2004 Explore Records / The Cheetah Company | EXP0027
Jazz / Post Bop / Soul Jazz / Guitar / Organ Hammond B-3

A hot, swinging soul-jazz date featuring some of the unsung heroes of the genre! Lead by drummer Bruno Carr, a veteran of Herbie Mann’s group (also those of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and David “Fathead” Newman), the Harlem Art Ensemble also features top soul-jazz players Jimmy Ponder (guitar), Dr Lonnie Smith (organ) and Harold Ousley (sax). The players groove and shine on this previously unreleased recording, that features great versions of Miles Davis’ “Four”, and Stevie Wonder’s “All in Love is Fair”.

Shirley Scott - Superstition (1973) {2013 Soul Brother Records CD SBCS 58}
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© 1973, 2013 Soul Brother Records / Passion Music / Verve / Cadet | CD SBCS 58
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Funk Jazz / Organ Hammond B-3

One of the coolest, grooviest albums ever from Hammond giant Shirley Scott – a set that's got a fair bit of funk in the mix, and a really rich array of inventive lines on the keyboards too! The tracks are longer than usual, and really step past the more familiar Shirley Scott modes of the 60s – opening up into more righteous 70s territory in the company of Chess/Cadet Records – with arrangements from Richard Evans that are as sophisticated as they are funky!

John Patton - That Certain Feeling (1968) {Blue Note Japan SHM-CD TYCJ-81058 rel 2014} (24-192 remaster)
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© 1968, 2014 Universal Japan / Blue Note | BN 75th The Masterworks | TYCJ-81058
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Hard Bop / Jazz Funk / Organ Hammond B-3

Features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player) and the latest 24bit 192kHz remastering. A brilliantly bubbling session from Hammond genius John Patton – and a set that serves as a real link between the gutbucket soul of his early years, and some of the fresher phrasing he was beginning to explore at Blue Note! Patton's lines on the keys are a wonderful thing to behold (and behear!) – as they're both rhythmic, but extremely fluid and exploratory – more conceived around some of the new ideas on tenor at the time, and pushing forward roughly into the same territory as Larry Young – but with more of Patton's rootsy soul still intact.

Lonnie Smith - Mama Wailer (1971) {2011 CTI-Sony Music Remaster}
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© 1971, 2011 CTI Records / Kudu / Sony Music | 88697 94704 2 | CTI Records 40th Anniversary
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Jazz Blues / Soul Jazz / Organ

One of Lonnie Smith's rarest albums – and one of the most obscure records on the landmark Kudu label! The set is one of Smith's most far-reaching from the 70s – a bit in the mode of his earlier records for Blue Note, but with a slightly sweeter quality that shows the shift to Kudu – where Lonnie's Hammond had lost none of its grooving power!