Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Frederick Roach was born on May 11, 1931 in The Bronx, New York. He made his record debut in 1960 with saxophonist Ike Quebec on the albums Heavy Soul and It Might as Well Be Spring and played with Willis Jackson.
>From 1962-64 he recorded five albums as a leader for the Blue Note Records label. He also recorded with Donald Byrd on the album I’m Tryin’ to Get Home. His original writing, steady basslines, and highly musical fleet-fingered right hand set him apart.
1966-67 saw Freddie recording three more albums as a leader for Prestige Records, which are in a more commercial vein than his Blue Note dates. He left the music business in 1970 and became involved in theater, playwriting and film.
Roach was a soulful organist, certainly influenced by Jimmy Smith, but with a distinct sound and a quite original concept, which was perhaps best heard on “Good Move” for Blue Note. His Blue Note albums are critically acclaimed
Soul jazz Hammond B3 organist Freddie Roach, who moved to California for the film industry, suffered a heart attack and passed away on October 3, 1980.
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
Fourteen months and the end of social distancing and mask wearing is not in sight, and remains the fare for the times as does my continual joy of listening to music. So going into my music room I’ve selected for this week’s enjoyment from the shelves the album Good Gracious!. The studio album was recorded on January 24, 1963 at the Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersy and released on the Blue Note label by saxophonist Lou Donaldson. The album was produced by Alfred Lion and released in the early part of June 1964.
If you’re a fan of Donaldson’s you will notice that his tone is richer and fuller than it is on many of his early-’60s records. He connects with the laid-back R&B grooves and soul-jazz vamps and it remains one of his best soul-jazz sessions.
Track List | 41:59
All compositions by Lou Donaldson except where noted- Bad John ~ 8:18
- The Holy Ghost ~ 8:38
- Cherry (Don Redman) ~ 5:17
- Caracas ~ 7:19
- Good Gracious ~ 6:52
- Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me (Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler) ~ 5:35
- Lou Donaldson – alto saxophone
- Grant Green – guitar
- Big John Patton – organ
- Ben Dixon – drums
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The Quarantined Jazz Voyager
As life moves forward and I remain steadfast in social distancing, I was reminded of an album produced by hard bop, soul~jazz organist Shirley Scott. This was a very personal album for the artist as it is filled with the music she always wanted to create but the demands of her vibrant career always overshadowed. With her friend and executive producer Maxine Gordon, they produced and recorded the session that became the album titled One For Me. This album was made to please no one but the artist herself.
Given two monikers, The Queen Of The Organ and Little Miss Half-Steps, the latter given to her by saxophonist George Coleman, this Philadelphian raised the funds to make the record, she had complete control over her masters and with her dream band, recorded in November 1974 at Blue Rock Studios in New York City. The album was released on the Strata~East label in Januray 1975. It has been re-released in 2020 on Arc Records.
Track List | 41:54- What Makes Harold Sing? ~ 8:53
- Keep on Movin’ On (Harold Vick) ~ 9:52
- Big George ~ 5:22
- Don’t Look Back (Vick) ~ 8:56
- Do You Know a Good Thing When You See One? ~ 8:51
- Shirley Scott – organ, mellotron
- Harold Vick – tenor saxophone
- Billy Higgins – drums
- Jimmy Hopps – cowbell, triangle (track 2)
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Carl Anderson was born Carlton Earl Anderson on February 27, 1945 in Lynchburg, Virginia, one of 12 children to James and Alberta Anderson. During his junior year of high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as a communications technician for two years. Honorably discharged and returning home he completed high school, graduating in 1965. He went on to sing at military bases across the United States as part of the World Wide Air Force Talent Contest.
Making his way to Washington, D.C. in 1969, he and some friends formed a group called The Second Eagle with Anderson handling the vocals. They covered jazz and rock tunes that included songs from the album Jesus Christ Superstar, released long before the stage production was launched. In 1971, a talent agent from the William Morris Agency saw Anderson perform some songs from the show at St. Stephen’s Church and recognized his potential as a solo performer.
His global popularity and star power came from his role as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar both on Broadway and in the film. He also had rolesin The Black Pearl, The Color Purple, The Eddie Capra Mysteries, Cop Rock, Days of Our Lives, and Hill Street Blues.
As a recording artist, Carl was equally prolific, initially signing with Motown Records in 1972, working with Stevie Wonder on his Songs in the Key of Life double album, as well as numerous others. While working the club circuit in Los Angeles, California he was noticed by and signed to Columbia Records and released four albums on their Epic label. He would go on to perform duets with Gloria Loring, Angie Bofill, Linda Eder and Nancy Wilson.
His duet with Loring, Friends and Lovers, reached Number 2 on the charts, and endeared Anderson to soap opera fans, after being performed on Days of Our Lives. He also recorded Between You and Me, as the title theme for the film Her Alibi.
In 2003 he had a minor car accident on his way to perform and while being treated for his injuries, doctors discovered that he had leukemia. Soul jazz vocalist and actor Carl Anderson passed away the following year from the illness on February 23, 2004, in Los Angeles, just four days before his 59th birthday.
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
William Ballard Doggett was born February 16, 1916 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the 1930s and early 1940s he worked for Lucky Millinder, Frank Fairfax and arranger Jimmy Mundy. In 1942 he was hired as the Ink Spots’ pianist and arranger.
By 1951 Doggett had organized his own trio and began recording for King Records. He also arranged for many bandleaders and performers, including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lionel Hampton. He also recorded with Fitzgerald, as well as Coleman Hawkins, Helen Humes, Willis Jackson, Illinois Jacquet, Louis Jordan, Lucky Millinder, Paul Quinichette, Buddy Tate, Lucky Thompson
Crossing over to rhythm & blues his best known recording is Honky Tonk, a rhythm and blues hit of 1956, which sold four million copies (reaching No. 1 R&B and No. 2 Pop), and which he co-wrote with Billy Butler. The track topped the US Billboard R&B chart for over two months. He also worked with the Ink Spots, Johnny Otis, and Wynonie Harris.
Pianist and organist Bill Doggett continued to play and arrange until passing away of a heart attack on November 13, 1996 in New York City. He was 80.
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