Artist: Blue Mitchell Title Of Album: Bantu Village Year Of Release: 2011 (1969) Label (Catalog#): Soul Brother Records [CD SBCS 47] Country: USA Genre: Hard Bop, Soul Jazz, Jazz-funk Quality: FLAC (tracks+.cue,log,scans) Bitrate: Lossless Time: 30:33 Full Size: 226 MB
One of the funkiest albums ever on Blue Note – a set that mixes the trumpet talents of Blue Mitchell with some killer backings from Monk Higgins – all in a groove that more gritty edges than the best funky soundtracks of the time! Higgins keeps the backings full, but always quite lean – fusing all elements together into a sharp, tight rhythm that steps along with some of the slight African touches you might guess from the title – a groove that's not really that authentic, but which resonates with some of the best inspirations that Hugh Masekela was bringing to American music at the time.
And while the album might be an attempt to cash in on Masekela's groove, the feel here is really quite different overall – as tracks are nicely stretched out, with plenty of room for jazzy solo work – and a groove that's much harder overall, thanks to Higgins! Other players include Freddy Robinson on guitar, Wilton Felder on bass, Paul Humphrey on drums, and Plas Johnson on tenor – and titles include "HNIC", "Flat Backing", "Na Ta Ka", "Bantu Village", and "Blue Dashiki".
Tracklist:
01. H.N.I.C. 02. Flat Backing 03. Na Ta Ka 04. Heads Down 05. Bantu Village 06. Blue Dashiki 07. Bush Girl
*************************** Trumpet Blue Mitchell Arrangements, Conductor, Percussion, Piano Monk Higgins Trumpet Bobby Bryant Trombone Charles Loper Saxophone Plas Johnson Percussion, Piano Dee Ervin Guitar Freddie Robinson Guitar Al Vescovo Flute, Saxophone Bill Green Flute Buddy Collette Drums Paul Humphrey Drums John Guerin Congas King Errisson Congas Alan Estes Bass Wilton Felder Bass Bob West