Big John Patton - Let 'Em Roll (1966/2016) [Official Digital Download 24-bit/192kHz]

This 1965 session for Blue Note teams up organist Big John Patton with vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and Grant Green on guitar, with Otis Finch at the drum kit. The tracklist consists of all original material by Patton except for one song by Hank Mobley and a gorgeous cover of "The Shadow Of Your Smile".

John Patton, a jazz, blues and R&B pianist and organist, often known by his nickname, Big John Patton, was one of the most in-demand hard bop and soul jazz organists during the golden era of the Hammond B-3 organs between 1963 and 1970. He was a major figure in the development of the funk and blues-rooted jazz style known as soul jazz and is considered a roots player who inspired the acid jazz movement. He recorded extensively for Blue Note, and performed or collaborated with Lloyd Price, Grant Green, Lou Donaldson, and John Zorn. His music evolved to incorporate modal and free jazz, without ever losing the basic, minimalist groove that he brought to it from the beginning.

In an unusual setting for a groove/soul jazz setting, B3 organist extraordinaire big John Patton creates a band around himself that includes Grant Green, drummer Otis Finch, and vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson. It's truly weird to think of vibes on a groove date, but the way Patton's understated playing works, and the way Green is literally all things to all players, Hutcherson's role is not only a clearly defined one, but adds immeasurably to both depth and texture on this date. What also makes this possible is the symbiotic relationship between Patton and Green. There is a double groove conscious swing happening on every track here, from the bluesed-out slip and slide of the title track which opens the record to a killer version of Hank Mobley's "The Turnaround," which expands the blues vibe into solid soul territory because of Hutcherson's ability to play pianistically and slip into the funk groove whenever necessary. Green's deadly in his solo on the track, shimmering arpeggios through Patton's big fat chords and chunky hammering runs. Also notable are Patton's own tunes, the most beautiful of which is "Latona," a floating Latin number with a killer salsa rhythm in 6/8. As Patton vamps through the chorus, Green slips in one of his gnarliest solos ever. It begins with a groove like run in the hard bop blues and then shoves itself into overdrive, capturing the cold sweat of a Bola Sete or Wes Montgomery in his groove years. But when Green goes for the harmonic edges, all bets are off: Hutcherson lays out, and he and Patton go running to the bridge and bring the melody back just in time to take it out. This is one of the least appreciated of Patton's records, and there's no reason for it; it is great.

Tracklist:

01 - Let 'Em Roll
02 - Latona
03 - The Shadow Of Your Smile
04 - The Turnaround
05 - Jakey
06 - One Step Ahead

Produced by Alfred Lion. Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
Recorded on December 11, 1965 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs.

Musicians:
Big John Patton - organ
Bobby Hutcherson - vibes
Grant Green - guitar
Otis Finch - drums


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