Since I was just concluding with the “Ja’s” when I bought this record—The Jazz Crusaders—Live Sides—I’ll write about it. I feel funny writing about a newly acquired record for this project. It doesn’t feel like part of my life yet, but I’ll just address it as a new acquaintance. So here goes…
Hey there Jazz Crusaders,
I only knew about you in your later incarnation, The Crusaders. I remember hearing that song “Street Life” on the radio when I was in high school. I always thought of you as a kind of smooth jazz predecessor, a “Quiet Storm” kind of band. Not that there was anything wrong with that, just not all that interesting to me. The only other thing I knew was that Wilton Felder and Joe Sample were in the band, two cool names.
Then, a few months ago, my friend Big Game James waved copies of your Jazz Crusader-era live sides in my face. He explained to me that you were more hard driving, straight up, post bop, sixties era soulful than I might have imagined. I was intrigued. Therefore, when I saw you in the stacks at Grooves I bought you. I’m glad I did.
If I were to introduce a skeptic to sixties jazz, I might start with you. Soulful, swinging, but not too out there or brainy (no insult intended!). You remind me of the live sides of Cannonball Adderly with a bit of the Coltrane and Miles influence. I dig Wilton Felder’s sax playing (I hear echoes of Coltrane and Wayne Shorter?), Sample’s piano and Henderson’s trombone. I love me some trombone. The opening track, Coltrane’s “Impressions” is a killer.
Welcome to the collection.
Sincerely,
uncorrected
