VA • Signifying! - Funky Organ Grooves from the Big Apple

Review by Richie Unterberger

With 16 songs and 77 minutes of music, this compilation of 1965-71 Hammond organ soul-jazz from the Prestige vaults is not only excellent value, but so well-selected as to rate among the finest soul-jazz compilations. Jack McDuff is the only name that will be immediately familiar to many general listeners; most of the disc is dedicated to lesser-known talents in the same vein, including Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Charles Earland, and more obscure names like Freddie Roach, Trudy Pitts, Don Patterson, and Leon Spencer. What elevates this above some similar anthologies is the focus upon cuts with really sharp, funky riffs, along with intelligent programming that provides a greater variety than you'll find on most soul-jazz comps. Highlights are hard to isolate in such strong company, but Trudy Pitts' suave run-through of "Take Five," Jack McDuff's propulsive "601 1/2 No. Poplar," Earland's furiously fast-paced "Milestones," and McDuff's incandescent version of "Walk On By" (arranged by Benny Golson) are standouts.

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Reseña de Richie Unterberger

Con 16 canciones y 77 minutos de música, esta compilación de soul-jazz de órgano Hammond de 1965-71 de las bóvedas del Prestige no sólo tiene un valor excelente, sino que está tan bien seleccionada que se encuentra entre las mejores compilaciones de soul-jazz. Jack McDuff es el único nombre que será inmediatamente familiar para muchos oyentes en general; la mayor parte del disco está dedicada a talentos menos conocidos en la misma línea, incluyendo a Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Charles Earland, y nombres más oscuros como Freddie Roach, Trudy Pitts, Don Patterson y Leon Spencer. Lo que eleva esto por encima de algunas antologías similares es el enfoque en cortes con riffs realmente agudos y funky, junto con una programación inteligente que proporciona una mayor variedad que la que se encuentra en la mayoría de las composiciones de soul-jazz. Es difícil aislar los momentos culminantes en una compañía tan fuerte, pero destacan el suave repaso de Trudy Pitts de "Take Five", el propulsor de Jack McDuff "601 1/2 No. Poplar", el furioso y trepidante "Milestones" de Earland, y la versión incandescente de McDuff de "Walk On By" (arreglada por Benny Golson).

Tracklist01. Spacious - Freddie Roach
02. Johnny Hammond Boogaloo - Johnny Hammond Smith
03. Soul Power - Richard Groove Holmes
04. Take Five - Trudy Pitts
05. 601½ North Poplar - Jack McDuff
06. Getting Up - Johnny Hammond Smith
07. Trip on the Strip - Sonny Fortune & Stan Hunter
08. Here It Is - Johnny Hammond Smith
09. One Track Mind - Freddie Roach
10. Sing a Simple Song - Charles Earland
11. Ain't That Peculiar - Richard Groove Holmes
12. Satisfaction - Don Patterson
13. Uptight - Don Patterson
14. Milestones - Charles Earland
15. First Gravy - Leon Spencer
16. Walk on By - Jack McDuff


Year Of Release 1998 (Rec. 1965-71)
Total Time 01:17:20

 

 

 

 

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