Review: Dizzy Gillespie - The Real Thing (BBE Music)

Dizzy Gillespie will always be remembered for developing bebop (along with Charlie Parker) and introducing Afro-Cuban/Latin style into jazz in the late 40s.  But what was he doing in the early 70s? 

There's two album released on Perception Records, 'The Real Thing' and 'Portrait Of Jenny' that are both being re-issued on BBE on 17th February.

'The Real Thing' features a regular companion James Moody (ts) along with Mike Longo (p), Eric Gale (gtr), Phil Upchurch (b) and Candy Finch (d).

Longo, best known for his '900 Shares Of The Blues' album of jazz-funk-fusion wrote most of the material including the club classic 'Matrix' which Longo included on his own album a couple of years later on Mainstream Records.

But this is more than a one hit album as the very next track 'Alligator' is another sort after on the Mo' Mod Jazz scene and whilst all the musicians are brilliant, what was Eric Gale on?  Whatever it was, this is definitely some of his best work.

'Closer' is a rare vocal track in the gospel swing of things before 'Soul Kiss' gets Even Mo' Mod with the benefit of Nate Edmonds' big organ sound and Dizzy being very 60s interproative/experimental (this guy was in his 50s at the time!)

Could the b-side be as good with an cover of 'Summertime' and a tracks called, 'High On A Cloud', 'Let Me Outta Here' and 'Ding A Ling'?  We'll, it's far more relaxed and showcases the bands love of the blues, especially on the longest track on the album, 'Let Me Outta Here' and the more upbeat 'Ding A Ling.

Once more, thanks to BBE for diggin' this one (in more ways than one) and getting it Dizzy to the wider audience it and he deserves.

See review of 'Portrait Of Jenny' HERE.

Artist: Dizzy Gillespie feat. James Moody

Title: The Real Thing

Release date: 17th February, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE659 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Dizzy Gillespie - Portrait Of Jenny (BBE Music)

Dizzy Gillespie will always be remembered for developing bebop (along with Charlie Parker) and introducing Afro-Cuban/Latin style into jazz in the late 40s. But what was he doing in the early 70s?

Well, there are two lesser known albums that were released on Perception Records, 'The Real Thing' and 'Portrait Of Jenny'; and both have been re-issued on BBE on 17th February.

'Portrait Of Jenny' features the 'svengali' of 'The Real Thing', Mike Longo (p) but the rest of the band have changed with the Gonzalez Brothers, Andrew (b) and Jerry (congas) together with Gillespie's collaborator of over 30 years, the master of Afro-Cuban congas, Carlos Valdes.

Longo, shines again with the 12 minutes of 'Me 'n Them' but there's just brilliant Latin post-bop funky spiritual jazz with the other 3 tracks.

You'd be hard pressed to have a favourite when 'Olinga' is for you're trumpet head, 'Diddy Wa Diddy (Mozambique)' satisfys your dancing groove (along with Me 'n Them) and the finger lickin' guitar of George Davis on the soul-jazz of 'Timet'.

Once more, thanks to BBE for diggin' this one (in more ways than one) and getting it Dizzy to the wider audience it and he deserves.

See review of 'The Real Thing' HERE.

Artist: Dizzy Gillespie 

Title: Portrait Of Jenny

Release date: 17th February, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE660 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Julius Brockington - Sophisticated Funk (BBE Music)

If you didn't know that this album was a much sort after funk-jazz album form the 70s that was originally released on Today/Perception Records, you might think from the cover that it's a Chazza Shop Classic,

Even the cover versions have the hallmark (no pun etc.) of a cheapo in the racks at Woolies.

But let us stop there as Julius Brockington - even his name sounds like a old boy cricket team; isn't there a Lord Brockington XI? - but this guy is soul-jazz hot like Brian Auger. 

Supported by Willie Bear (really!) and his incredible bass, Anthony Blunt (what the spy?) on drums, Don Mitchell (guitar), Bobby Morton Jr. (Percussion) and produced by disco legend Patrick Adams, so you can see why your West Coast hip-community love this album for samples so much.

If you need bass, 'Cold Water' is as low as you can go and whilst I'm not so keen on their version of 'Let's Stay Together', 'Rock Steady' and 'If You Really Love Me' more than make up for that; along with the only Brockington original composition, 'Cold Water' and the 9 minutes of Isaac Hayes' 'Do Your Thing' (Wow! it's a monster track).

If you were being very harsh, Julius does sound like he's been to Blackpool Tower to see Reg Dixon (ask you grandparents) but you just gotta love the "in your face" vibe of it at a time when the likes of ELP/The Nice  were up there own organ prog rock/classical parahernalia.

And it's not just me that rates this album: Madlib, DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist and many more are fans so it's time to get this now as BBE have re-issued it so beautifully.  

As they say, don't judge a record by the cover.

Artist: Julius Brockington

Title: Sophisticated Funk

Release date: 17th February, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE658 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp