Album of The Week: July 27-August 2

[Soul Stream]

I ordered this from Dusty Groove (the bastards!). Don't know if it'll be in this week or not.

Yeah since their shipping charges went up, if you're like me, everything from them is media mail. Which seems to be really slooooowww from them. Hope you get it this week Jim, I'd like to hear your unique take on it.

Edited March 31, 2006 by Jim Alfredson

[Soul Stream]

Let me begin by saying how surprised I was when I began to SERIOUSLY like "Moon Rappin." Up until the time it came out as a Rare Groove CD, I had never heard it. And to be honest, from the looks of it on paper and it's 1969 dating, it didn't seem that promising. But once I heard it, it began to grow and grow and GROW on me until it became one of my all-time favorite organ dates. And that's saying a lot, since I think I have every organ date known to man.

Usually, I'm not a big fan of organ albums with bass players. However, this is RICHARD DAVIS!!!! You remember, from the Andrew Hill Blue Note sessions among other things. He's a serious player and in a rare electric bass role here. His rhythm mate is none other that JOE DUKES. Joe Dukes was Jack's main drummer throughout a huge stretch of time. He and Davis really hook up, and along with McDuff make it a very TIGHT feel on Moon Rappin'. Just check out the drum/bass pickup that starts off the album on FLAT BACKIN'....I mean, someone needs to sample that! It's tight, right and full of might. B) I hear two guitars on this track, so I'm not sure if Jerry Byrd played both parts or not, but whoever did is bad. The wah-wah especially makes it for me. And check Richard Davis walking on the swing section of the tune. Wow! Jack makes his thing swing as usual (hey, I DIG the organ sound here. Usually not a fan of non-RVG organ sounds from this era, but Bob Gallo does a wonderful job capturing the leslie here.) Plus Jack's vocal groans are captured to good effect especially on the funk sections. The funk and the swing sections....two great things that go great together!

OBLIGHETTO....O.K> I'm declaring this track the official winner!!!! That little groove they hit at the beginning with Jack doing that percussion effect w/drawbars pushed all the way in. Then BAM....we're launched into outer space until about 2 minutes into it ....when Jack and company go super funk on us! Richard Davis again, bad on that Fender Bass....Joe Dukes layin' it down tight and right. And Jack, he's McDuffin' to the max. Man, I LOVE when McDuff just sails some shit over the I chord like on this section. Then they all shift gears and we're back to the spacey section with Jean DuShon's badass superfly eerie vocals trippin' all over the place. That little figure played on sax and muted trumpet is so nice. The sound they have together is happening. At about 5:00 minutes into the song Jack really hits his stride, high notes anyone? Jack is serving them up. All you can eat. And boy, he's BLOWIN' on this outro section! Go on Brother Jack with your bad self. P.S.-nice ending.

Wait, did I declare Oblighetto the winner?...o.k...I take that back...MOON RAPPIN' is!!!!! I dig this little vibe they have going here. Those voicings are all brother jack. Nice channel too with the horns and all. At about 1:20 they really blow up. That rhythm section is tight. Check out JERRY BYRD'S little octave part!!!! And then McDuff plays piano. He's got a nice hard sound on piano, alll right hand (and by the way this section is in B natural!!!). He goes into a nice octave pounding before hitting that BAD B chord that MAKES this cut for me (Will someone spell that chord out for me! Jsngry? where are you! ) Overall, some nice team playing on this cut.

MADE IN SWEDEN. This cut is all about Joe Dukes! Check out his thing at the beginning before they break into straight waltz time (you can hear a tape splice when they go back into the A section.) Jack does his erroll garner thing here to nice effect and even goes a little crazy with it at times, slapping the lower manual around a lot. (Hey I'm not against a little over doing it to make your point.) I dig the little breakdown around 3:50 so Joe Dukes can do his thing. Check out that machine gun kick drum part he does. Joe does his updated "Soulful Drums" til the head and fade (matter of fact, there's a splice before the end fade, so lord knows how long Joe went on). Man, what a BBBAAAAAADDDDD drummer he was. What style.

McDuff finishes all off with one of his best minor blues things....LOOSE FOOT. Jack did A LOT of this minor blues shuffle throughout his career on albums. But imho, this is one of the best examples. Richard Davis is out and Jack plays the bass on organ as only he could. Jack's solo is all grits, gravy and soulfulness. Nothing serious here. Just THE BLUES, McDuff style. Nobody did it better. For me, the star of the show on this cut is Jack's basswork. It's textbook. A nice head on this one too. Simple but with a nice turnaround.

One last point I'd like to make. Jack did some nice little tune arrangements here. Interesting stuff. Of course he was famous for his band and arrangements so this should be no surprise. But I think he outdid himself here.

I picked this album for a lot of reasons. One of them being how it showed McDuff changing with the times, in an a way that was true to his artistry. Someone had suggested they thought McDuff probably didn't dig this session. I have quite the opposite view. I think he LOVED this session. He produced it, did all the arrangements. It's a nice twist on the McDuff discography. I only wish he had done a few more like this. Although "To Seek A New Home" is a pretty close companion, and another one I'd highly recommend if you dug "Moon Rappin'." I mean it DOES have "Hunk of Funk" on it!!!!!

Edited July 29, 2003 by Soul Stream

[Big Al]

Well, I also have enjoyed the heck outta this session, ever since it was re-released last year. I remember when it was announced, I thought, "OH BOY! More greeeeaze a la Down Home Style!!!" (Not to take the thread off in a different direction, but DHS is, in my book, THE greeeeaziest album on the planet; so greeazy, even the cover clogs yer arteries!!!)

Imagine my surprise when the disc I put in the player was some of the most far-out spaciest GROOOOOOVE I've ever heard!!! What Soul Stream said about that bass-drum intro:

Just check out the drum/bass pickup that starts off the album on FLAT BACKIN'....I mean, someone needs to sample that! It's tight, right and full of might.

is RIGHT ON!!! That bass line is so cool, I tried to learn to play it. Now that I know it, I LOOOOVE to play along with it. Then when I found out it was Richard Davis, my jaw about hit the floor! RICHARD DAVIS, man!!! What's he doin' gettin' all slathered in the greeeeaze like this?

Also heartily agreein' on all the good said about "Oblighetto." I dig that McDuff is all over the place on this track, and DuShon's vocals are all sorts of eerie (cryptic and greeeazy too, if Jim R is reading), but that "tight, right and full of might" rhythm of Davis and Dukes keeps things movin' with a most KICK-ASS groove!

Now, up until this album I wasn't too familiar with McDuff the piano player. With the title track, I am now! He's got a touch as light as Count Basie, and just as sharp too! And I loooove the groove on this. This was perfect for coastin' down the highway to the airport late at night last week. Just settle into a nice backbeat and groooooooove all the way!

"Made in Sweden." This is a good place to bring up the sound of the drums on this album. How did they get that sound? It sounds eerily tinny, yet good and spacy, so that it fits right in on the record. But I mean, there's no bottom to it. It just sounds like it's being transmitted from..... space!!!

Oddly enough, the last track is probably my least favorite, but I think it has more to do with the fact that it's not in the same groove as the others. Make no mistake, it's a killer track. But I find myself going back to "Flat Backin'" once this track starts up.

HELLUVA pick for AOW, Soul Stream!!! This is one I never get tired of!

[Soul Stream]

Glad you dug it Couw. I've been listening to it a lot this week as well. I had the chance to give Brother Jack a little ride around my hometown a few years before he died. He was just as great and cool as you'd think he would be, and he answered all my questions. Unfortunately, this was before I ever heard Moon Rappin'. I wish I could have asked him about this session. I'd love to have known his thoughts about it!

[Ed S]

I've been meaning to post on this one all week, but this summer has been very busy - my posting is way down for the last month or so. Moon Rappin' has to be one of my 2 or 3 favorite Rare Grooves - and I have them all. What an excellent feel to this music - spacey, funky, groovy. It's all there - everything that draws me to the Rare Groove sound.

I picked this one up when it came out last year, never heard it prior to my purchase and have dug it ever since. It's excellent driving music and great for summer listening out on the deck. This is in my rotation for social gatherings as well. People who are not jazz fans really dig it. It grooves like hell and people really seem to dig that spacey vibe. I think this a very interesting/entertaining disc. As an added bonus, my wife loves this disc as well.

I have to say that one of the best things BN ever did was start this Rare Groove series. Having read about the fall off in the quality of the label in the last half of the 60s and into the 70s really had prejudiced me against this music. But actually listening to it - that was an ear-opener. I look forward to Rare Groove release every spring so I hope BN carries on the tradition next year.

[Big Al]

I have to say that one of the best things BN ever did was start this Rare Groove series..... I look forward to Rare Groove release every spring so I hope BN carries on the tradition next year.

Yeeaahhhhh buddy!!!

[Soul Stream]

Just wanted to thank everyone who listened and posted about "Moon Rappin'" I hope Jim S. and Jim A. post their thoughts once the mailman comes.

Thanks everyone!

[JSngry]

Got it yesterday, listened to it at work last night, and will have more to say, but my FIRST impression was, "What the hell IS this?", and in a totally positive way.

SOMEBODY was not living a drug-free lifestyle, it sounds like to me...

[Soul Stream]

Got it yesterday, listened to it at work last night, and will have more to say, but my FIRST impression was, "What the hell IS this?", and in a totally positive way.

SOMEBODY was not living a drug-free lifestyle, it sounds like to me...

Ahh yes. Glad to hear you've taken the "Moon Rappin'" plunge Jsngry....ENJOY....

[Templejazz]

I picked this up today and my first impression is I really wouldn't call this lightweight listening at all! A tight grooving band with subtle elements added to the arrangements for texture and effect from the horn lines to the wah-wah pedals. There's so much to pick up throughout. My favorite tracks so far are 'Made in Sweden' followed closely by 'Oblighetto'. In 'Made in Sweden' you KNOW that when Dukes raps on the ride cymbal after the bass intro somethin' BAD'S gonna happen!!

This is a nice one on my Disc Man but when I get home I'm jackin it LOUD on my player! It's only fitting.

Great choice.

Edited August 8, 2003 by Templejazz

[Dmitry]

An amazing AOW pick!

LOve it. I think it leans way closer to Sun Ra than to Stanley Turrentine.

How would you classify it? Space soul?

What similar albums can you suggest?

[street singer]

Anyone have a problem with static on the first track of this CD? I've received two copies of this disc recently, both with static on the first track. Only noticeable during the organ solos.

What the...?!

[sidewinder]

Up from the archives for this one. Can't believe I've only just got hold of a copy - missed it when it came out and found a second hand copy yesterday. Time capsule and a half, this one. Should have been reissued on 8-track. An excellent reissue though - 'Oblighetto' certainly works for me, great spacy vocals. Love the groove put down by Richard Davis too on bass. OK - the session is of its time - but certainly no worse for that. Great music, great thread.. :rsmile:

'Made In Sweden' just spinning. Love it ! Can't see the connection with Sweden though... (Ikea? porn? hmmmm )

Edited March 20, 2005 by sidewinder

[Soul Stream]

Glad to see this is up for air. Now that people have had time to let this sink, wonder what people have discovered.

Still one of the most interesting and downright singular organ records ever made. However, it's no novelty...even though it surely is "of it's time." On the traditional side Jack KILLS on "Swedenin'". And when they start swinging that first track, Jack is all over it, playing some straight swing stuff that would make Jimmy Smith's head spin.

Thanks for bringin' the thread back up!

[Peter Johnson]

I absolutely love this album. Something makes me feel surprised that it's held up so well over time--but it has. The playing and the arrangements are top notch; it's in fairly regular rotation in these parts.

Any fan of organ/jazz/soul/funk ought to pick this up; it's genre-straddling for sure, but doesn't lose sight of hard bop either.

Terrific stuff!

[Soul Stream]

Maybe you hit upon why it's still so good Peter. The playing and arranging are just top-notch. Stuff like that never goes out of style.

[vibes]

I don't know if this means it's going out of print, or just that True Blue won't be carrying it any more, but I got an email from Mosaic saying that this is a "last chance" item. For anyone who does not have "Moon Rappin'", NOW is the time to get it. It's become my favorite BN organ session, and I haven't been able to find anything else like it. Highly recommended!

[Noj]

What vibes said! I love this album.

[clifford_thornton]

'Oblighetto' certainly works for me, great spacy vocals.

That's a winner of a song title!

[Big Al]

Yes yes YES get this album before it goes OOP. There certainly ain't anything like it, which is a pity!

[Guest akanalog]

as i have done many times in the past, i would once again like to recommend roland kovacs two garden of delights reissues for those who like "moon rappin".

not as bluesy, but space-ey organ jazz music from the 70s.

sort of a european take on "moon rappin".

they seem to be intermittently available via dustygroove.

"the master said" is particularly good, IMO.

[Chas]

Up , for discographical tidbits...........

Mark Miller in his book , Jazz in Canada : Fourteen Lives , writes about obscure Toronto tenor player Ron Park and his contributions to Moon Rappin' . Apparently , Park ( who OD'ed in 1971 ) takes both a tenor and a flute solo on Flat Backin' , as well as the tenor solo on Loose Foot . The CD lists the tenor and flute player as "Bill Phillips", but this second tenor would have to have been Newark tenor player Bill Phipps who gigged with McDuff ( and who's still gigging ) . Miller doesn't list the trumpet player on the date so his identity remains a mystery , but he does list Melvin Sparks on guitar . That two guitars can be heard both on Flat Backin' and on the title cut seems to confirm that Jerry Byrd wasn't the only guitarist . I say seems , because there is overdubbing on the record ( McDuff overdubs himself on the title cut ) and a single guitar line does occasionally pan between channels , so there may have only been a single guitarist .