Walter Bishop Jr. – Coral Keys

$25.99

Officially licensed reissue courtesy of Real Gone Music and pressed by Gotta Groove Records on 150 gram vinyl.  Lacquers cut by Clint Holley and Dave Polster at the Well Made Music studios.

The first release on Black Jazz was by pianist and label producer Gene Russell; for the label’s second release, Russell chose another piano man of impeccable taste, Walter Bishop, Jr. But while much of Russell’s record consisted of songs composed by others, Bishop’s record features all originals, most notably ‘Soul Turn Around,’ a groover that later turned up on Freddie Hubbard’s 1969 LP A Soul Experiment. Bishop had helmed several releases before this one, including dates with John Coltrane bassist Jimmy Garrison and Miles Davis drummer Jimmy Cobb among others, so it’s not surprising he assembled a heavy hitting line-up for Coral Keys, including Woody Shaw on trumpet, Reggie Jackson on bass, Idris Muhammad on drums, and Harold Vick on flute, tenor, and soprano sax. Think Herbie Hancock’s ’60s Blue Note recordings gently polished with a soul jazz sheen; this is some tasty stuff that’s been hard to find for way too long. Remastered by Mike Milchner at Sonic Vision, this long-awaited release includes notes by Pat Thomas, author of Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975, which place both the Black Jazz label and this album in a broader musical and societal context.

Available on backorder





































Description

SIDE ONE

1. Coral Keys 6:20

2. Waltz For Zweetie 5:08

3. Track Down 4:51

4. Soul Turn Around 7:18

SIDE TWO

1. Our November 4:10

2. Three Loves 5:00

3. Freedom Suite 7:50

Henry Franklin: Bass

Calvin Keys: Guitar

Artwork [Cover Art], Photography By [Photo] – Dorothy Tanous
Bass – Reggie Johnson
Drums – Alan Shwaetz Benger (tracks: B1 to B3), Idris Muhammad (tracks: A1 to A4)
Piano, Written-By, Arranged By – Walter Bishop, Jr.
Producer, Engineer [Recording] – Gene Russell
Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Harold Vic* (tracks: A1 to A4)
Tenor Saxophone – Harold Vic* (tracks: B1 to B3)
Trumpet – Wood Shaw* (tracks: B1 to B3)