John Handy • Hard Work & Carnival

 

Review by Al Campbell
Originally released separately on Impulse, this two-fer combines saxophonist John Handy's 1976 release Hard Work and Carnival, which came out the following year. These dates find Handy branching out from modern jazz and combining lite jazz with smooth R&B. "Hard Work" became a radio hit and the remaining tracks -- all original Handy compositions -- will appeal to fans of smooth jazz. Carnival is a bit more festive. The title cut has traces of the traditional melody associated with Sonny Rollins "Don't Stop the Carnival," but like the previous set, Carnival is mainly smooth jazz with synthesizers. The only cover version recorded for these dates is “All the Things You Are,” a duet with Reginald Burke on acoustic piano and Handy on alto. This two-fer offers very pleasant background music, but those expecting to hear Handy in a post-bop setting should skip this one. The music has been remastered and, while there are no bonus tracks or new liner notes, Impulse had the good taste to restore the original packaging: front and back cover art and liner notes.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-work-carnival-mw0002250364

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Reseña de Al Campbell
Publicado originalmente por separado en Impulse, este doble álbum combina los discos de 1976 del saxofonista John Handy, Hard Work y Carnival, que salió al año siguiente. Estas fechas encuentran a Handy desviándose del jazz moderno y combinando lite jazz con suave R&B. «Hard Work» se convirtió en un éxito radiofónico y el resto de temas -todos composiciones originales de Handy- gustarán a los aficionados al smooth jazz. Carnival es un poco más festivo. El corte que da título al disco tiene trazas de la melodía tradicional asociada a «Don't Stop the Carnival» de Sonny Rollins, pero al igual que el disco anterior, Carnival es principalmente smooth jazz con sintetizadores. La única versión grabada para estas fechas es «All the Things You Are», un dúo con Reginald Burke al piano acústico y Handy al contralto. Este dúo ofrece una música de fondo muy agradable, pero quienes esperen escuchar a Handy en un entorno post-bop deberían saltárselo. La música ha sido remasterizada y, aunque no hay temas extra ni nuevas notas de presentación, Impulse ha tenido el buen gusto de restaurar el embalaje original: portada, contraportada y notas de presentación.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-work-carnival-mw0002250364

Tracks:
1976 "Hard Work" Impulse ASD 9314
1 - Hard Work
2 - Blues for Louis Jordan
3 - Young Enough to Dream
4 - Love for Brother Jack
5 - Didn't I Tell You
6 - Afro Wiggle
7 - You Don't Know

1977 "Carnival" Impulse ASD 9324
8 - Carnival
9 - Alvina
10 - Watch Your Money Go
11 - I Will Leave You
12 - Love's Rejoycing
13 - Make Her Mine
14 - All the Things You Are
15 - Christina's Little Song


Credits:
    Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Percussion – John Handy
    Bass – James Jamerson, Sr.* (tracks: 12), Ruddy Coleman* (tracks: 8 to 11), Vince Jefferson (tracks: 13, 15)
    Congas – Paulinho Da Costa (tracks: 13, 15), Tom Nichols (4) (tracks: 9 to 11)
    Design [Carnival] – John Van Hamersveld
    Drums – Harold Jones (tracks: 13, 15), James Gadson (tracks: 1 to 7, 8, 10, 12), John Handy IV (tracks: 9, 11)
    Electric Bass – Chuck Rainey (tracks: 1 to 7)
    Engineer – Barney Perkins, Barney Perkins (tracks: 8 to 15)
    Guitar – Larry Carlton (tracks: 12), Lee Ritenour (tracks: 8), Mike Hoffmann (tracks: 1 to 7, 9 to 11)
    Keyboards – George Spencer (tracks: 10), Hotep Cecil Barnard (tracks: 1 to 7)
    Keyboards, Synthesizer [ARP] – Lee Ritenour (tracks: 13, 15)
    Management – Alta California Artists
    Mastered By – John Golden (tracks: 8 to 15)
    Percussion, Backing Vocals – Esmond Edwards
    Percussion, Congas – Eddie "Bongo" Brown (tracks: 1 to 7)
    Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer [ARP] – Reginald "Sonny" Burke*
    Producer – Esmond Edwards
    Producer [Series] – Douglas Payne, Matthias Künnecke
    Tabla – Zakir Hussain (tracks: 1 to 7)
    Written-By – John Handy (tracks: 1 to 13, 15)

Hard Work originally released as John Handy - Hard Work (1976), Recorded January 1976
Carnival originally released as John Handy - Carnival (1977), Recorded 1976-77

Label:    Impulse! – 06025 2780949
Series:    Impulse! 2-On-1
Country:    Europe
Released:    2011
Genre:    Jazz
Style:    Post Bop, Fusion, Jazz-Funk
https://www.discogs.com/release/3685060-John-Handy-Hard-Work-Carnival?srsltid=AfmBOoqVBJMw7cufXSOVM3uyH0FOlR7mJMV0z1iAjFt3fGtN-ai1zh4O

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