Smoke – Everything (1973/2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 42:17 minutes | 817 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: Qobuz | Front Cover | © MPS
“Everything”, a funky monster from Smoke, and a rare bit of tripped out groove from early 70s MPS label. Smoke has masterful mix of fresh, funky jazz and spiritual instrumental soul, with tunes that build from rolling lines on leader Woodi Webb’s vibes, finding the best kind of wonderful elastic bass groove and excellent funky drums and congas. Those elements hold it all together for the rest of the line-up, which factors in psychedelic tinged organ, harp, sax, clarinet and occasional lilting background vocals. Tight and funky, but loose around the edges – another excellent bit of lost funky soul jazz from the early 70s.
This 1973 album is unusual, in that, except for keyboardist Curtis Clark, who went on to work with the likes of David Murray, Julian Priester, and Abbie Lincoln, none of these San Francisco-based players became known on the international scene. Yet the music on this album rates higher in musical inventiveness than many a record slapped together by international stars. Woodi Webb played congas for 13 years before taking up vibes. An autodidact, Webb developed his own fluid melodic/percussive style. He and Clark are the composers on this set. Written for a young girl in LA, Clark’s laid-back Shelda shines as mood music with a light rock beat. Woodi wrote Lobotomy after watching the classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; with its harsh soundscape, the music reflects the claustrophobic angst of the movie. Woodi dedicated Everything to Thelonious Monk. The music revolves around a Latinesque riff and features some risky solos including an impressive bass clarinet. Written for conga player Garry Griffieth – ‘he’s got so much rhythm in his butt’, Griffo lays out a rhythmic feast. Supported by a bass ostinato, Clark’s Nite Song reflects on the communion between man and woman. Standout Curtis Clark! Miss Shirley separates the group into a double quartet, alternatively playing progressively diminishing phrases before going into a g-minor mode. Clark’s Curtis (the band insisted on the title) sweats out hot jazz funk. A fascinating album with lots of surprises.
Tracklist:
01 – Shelda
02 – Lobotomy
03 – Everything
04 – Griffo
05 – Nite Song
06 – Miss Shirley
07 – Curtis
Produced by Baldhard G. Falk. Engineered by Doc Storch.
Recorded on September 22, 1971 Wally Heider Recording, San Francisco.
Digitally Remastered.
Musicians:
Woodi Webb – vibraphone
Nardy Dedmann – alto saxophone, bass clarinet, vocals
Danny Daniels – organ
Curtis Clark – piano
Bobb Bragg – bass
Kenny Jenkins – double bass
Akira Tana – drums
Hakim Ali Muhammad – harp
Garry Griffieth – congas
Lani Wilson – vocals
Shirley Puckett – vocals
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