David T Walker - Press On

dusty sez:

Warmly chromatic and nicely tripped out guitar work from David T Walker – laid out over some great larger arrangements from the legendary Jerry Peters! The style here is a great blend of studio jazz and soul – a completely new recasting of the role of the guitarist in the soul instrumental field, and one that's clearly inspired by the styles of CTI and Kudu, yet a bit more straight ahead overall. Walker's guitar is amazing throughout – laidback, yet always filled with a strong sense of "voice" that really comes through – and other players on the set include longtime studio associates, like Harvey Mason on drums, Ernie Watts on alto, Tom Scott on tenor, and Oscar Brasher on trumpet. Titles are mostly covers, but done in really great versions – and tunes include "If You Let Me", "Superstition", "Work To Do", "Brother, Brother", "Press On", "Didn't I Blow Your Mind", and "If That's The Way You Feel".

barabara sounds sez:

Probably my favorite album of all from David T Walker, this funky joint from 1973 sees him lay down a fine groove from start to finish. A great cover too, with those sepia photos. Mr David T (as he's known over here) still visits Japan just about every year – and he's still playing with Clarence McDonald. This was the set list for last year's Xmas shows (check down the bottom of that page for English titles).

Lyman Woodard Organization Live At JJ's Lounge 1974

barabara sounds sez:

Here's a rare one from the Lyman "Saturday Night Special" Woodard Organization, which is high up there on a lot of people's lists as their favorite strata-east joint (yes, a difficult choice that one). Ripped from the JP reissue CD. The classic cut is 29-odd-minute final track — one for the inestimable Cheeba at Soundological.

dusty sez:
A rare live performance from the legendary Lyman Woodard Organization — captured here at the height of their powers in the 70s! The Organization has a really unique approach to their groove — one that starts in jazz, but moves quickly into funk -- with a spirit that you'd find in other 70s groups like Funk Inc or The Nineteenth Whole — both of which have the same soulful local spirit as Lyman's mighty group! Woodard himself is a wonderful organist — playing with these freewheeling lines that open the Hammond up strongly way past the Jimmy Smith generation, with a groove that's often soaring, but still tightly rhythmic too — a hypnotic vamp that's perfect for jamming tracks like these. Other group members are great too — and include Ron English on guitar, Norma Bell on alto sax, Lorenzo Brown on percussion, and Sundiata on congas — a very hip lineup that makes things really cook on the set! The recording was originally done for radio, and there's a few announcer bits — but that professional setting also makes the album sound way better than just a dodgy ol' local tape might. Titles include "Organ Interlude", "Kimba", "On Your Mind", "Last Tango In Paris", "You Make Me Feel Brand New", and "Cheeba".

track listing:
Kimba; On Your Mind; band announcement; Last Tango in Paris; A Portrait of Martha (organ interlude); You Make Me Feel Brand New; Cheeba