Earl Hines - Fatha & His Flock on Tour (1970/2015) [Official Digital Download 24/88]

This somewhat obscure MPS LP features pianist Earl Hines' working band of 1970. Most notable is singer Marva Josie's effective version of "I Just Wanna Make Love To You" that opens the date (although musically, this Chicago electric blues classic is a bit out of place). Josie also pops up on three other songs (including Hines' "Night In Trinidad"), but makes less of an impact on those numbers. Not enough is heard from Haywood Henry (doubling on baritone and clarinet), and the pianist's solos are not as lengthy or explorative as usual. However, there are some bright moments, most notably "Second Balcony Jump" and three solo Hines features.

Earl Hines’ improvisational style helped shape jazz. His Hot Five sides with Louis Armstrong are historic masterpieces, and the Armstrong-Hines duo “Weather Bird” is one of jazz’s high-watermarks. He went on to lead the first be-bop big band with Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker as band members. Hines kept up with the times throughout his career, absorbing and assimilating every new style. Here Hines flows from Dixie to stride and swing, from rocking rhythm and blues to free-wheeling contemporary. Singer Marva Josie shines as the quintet plays the rhythm & blues standard I Just Wanna Make Love to You, as well as I Feel so Smoochy, Hines’ Night In Trinidad and the Cole Porter classic Easy To Love. The Hines originals Second Balcony Jump and Cannery Walk are tasty trio pieces. Ellington classics Passion Flower and Things Ain’t What They Used To Be, as well as All Of Me and Hines’ own Melodica Blues are instrumental quartet pieces featuring Haywood Henry’s polished clarinet and baritone play. All Of Me, My Heart Stood Still and Somebody Loves Me are solo exhibitions of Hines’ depth and breadth as he plays through jazz history. A necessary addition to any ‘Fatha’ Hines collection, and for those not familiar with the man and his music, a good introduction to one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century.

Tracklist:

01 - I Just Wanna Make Love to You
02 - Second Balcony Jump
03 - Passion Flower
04 - My Heart Stood Still
05 - I Feel so Smootchy
06 - All of Me
07 - Somebody Loves Me
08 - One Night in Trinidad
09 - Cannery Walk
10 - Things Ain't What They Used to Be
11 - Yellow Blues Blues
12 - Easy to Love

Produced by Joachim E. Berendt.
Recorded on the occasion of the Berlin Jazz Festival 1970.
Digitally Remastered.

Musicians:
Earl Hines - piano
Marva Josie - vocals
Haywood Henry - saxophone, clarinet
Larry Richardson - bass
Khalil Mhadi - drums


Thanks to the Original customer!