posted by het muziek archief
Killer heavy funk jazz album with some great tunes as “On the Hill” & “St. Louis Breakdown“.
Sain works a more varied groove here than the uptempo funk he’s most well known for, but there’s no shortage of gritty, greasy St Louis goodness oozing from these tracks with his warm, soulful sax adding a touch of polish to the proceedings! And don’t get us wrong, the funk is well represented too, giving you a killer set that hits all the stops!
Oliver Sain (1932 – 2003) was a bandleader extraordinaire and brought his crew to play at highest levels while still retaining an honest feeling.
Most songs on this first album of his group come as instrumentals with the occasional commanding shout by the master himself and you will for sure recognize a few fairly popular melodies and indeed, there are adaptions of classics like “Georgia” and the “Harlem Nocturne” played with an enormous dedication which of course goes for all the performances here. Oliver Sain and his band do not just play down their tunes, they live out each note with the fire burning within their hearts.
Especially the expressive saxophone playing will leave you as a listener floored. Eruptive lines that could come straight from the vaults of the great late John Coltrane meet a rather relaxed and laid back funk sound, can you dig it? There is steam heat and sheer love pouring from these well executed compositions and adaptions.
It’s all good and groovy here.
Tracks
A1. Soul Serenade - 5:45
A2. Comin Down Soul - 3:13
A3. On The Hill - 5:15
A4. Harlem Nocturn - 3:28
B1. 20-75 - 3:04
B2. Scratch My Back - 2:30
B3. Georgia - 5:45
B4. St. Louis Breakdown - 2:40
B5. Mr. King & Mr. Jordan - 3:33
Companies, etc.
- Distributed By – Nashboro Record Co.
- Recorded At – Archway Sound Studio, St. Louis
- Published By – Sign Of Aries
- Published By – Kilynn Pub. Co.
- Published By – Vee-Ve Pub. Co.
- Published By – Shapiro, Bernstein & Co.
- Published By – Jec Publishing Co.
- Published By – Albireco Music
- Published By – Excellorec
- Published By – Pier International
- Lacquer Cut At – Woodland Studios
Credits
- Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Charles Hayes
- Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Organ, Vibraphone, Arranged By, Engineer [Recording] – Oliver Sain
- Bass – Paul Jackson
- Design Concept, Art Direction, Photography By – Aesthetics, Inc.
- Drums – Sammy Harris
- Guitar – Earl Wright
- Guitar, Arranged By, Engineer [Recording] – Phil West
- Lacquer Cut By – TS
- Liner Notes – Eddie O'Jay
- Photography By – Jimmy Moore
- Trumpet – Bob Elliot
