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Charles Earland: Intensity
By"Will You Still Love Me" is caught in a shadowit tries to be "More Today than Yesterday," his hit from Black Talk! Same easy lope, same conga patting along; practically the same solo! (That stairstep descent, a highlight of the "Yesterday" solo, gets a lot of use here.) Like most copies, not as sharp as the originaland again those pesky horns! The chart is better on "'Cause I Love Her"Laws takes the theme, with Greg Miller's octaves. The horns are restrained, and Laws is sweet as he ascends a brass wall. Earland takes it soft: staying low, he builds tension, releasing in shrill blasts. A good effort, and better use of the large group. (It gets loud at the end, but only in the good sense!)
This proved to be Lee Morgan's last session; he died two days later. (The material appeared on two albums; this reissue puts everything in one package for the first time.) Sad to say, Morgan does not distinguish himself: his solo on "Love Her" is soft and none too distinctive. "Morgan" is likewise; honors go to Laws (on piccolo, sounding like a recorder) and Billy Harper, with a battering ram of a solo. He takes it with rasp, and a twisting of notesan intensity worthy of the title. As Harper proceeds, guitars pour it on, and Earland stokes it with a slow ascension. Yes.
"Lowdown," with a smaller band, is typical Earland: a smooth glider, with lots of solo space. Lee goes loud: he's sloppy at first, but builds to a confident surge. He tried this before; now he succeeds. Same with the Burner: his gritty turn is one of his best. And now, a very grand finale: Morgan's "Speedball," by a basic quartet. Morgan sounds happy, his tone very precise. They load him in echo, so two Morgans amble downgood idea. Harper tries for the speed record; a bit much, but he still has that wonderful tone. Charles takes some three-note rolls, and bleeps some Morse code when the theme returns. Lives up to its name: it's fast, and it's a ball!
Track Listing
Happy 'Cause I'm Goin' Home; Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow; Cause I Love Her; Lowdown*; Speedball*. * Bonus track on CD reissue
Personnel
Charles Earland
organ, Hammond B3Jon Faddis
trumpetVirgil Jones
trumpetLee Morgan
trumpetVictor Paz
trumpetSonny Morgan
congasBilly Cobham
drumsBilly Harper
saxophoneHubert Laws
woodwindsClifford Adams
tromboneWilliam Thorpe
saxophone, baritoneJack Jeffers
tromboneDick Griffin
tromboneMaynard Parker
guitarGreg Millar
guitarJohnny Fourie
guitarAlbum information
Title: Intensity | Year Released: 1972 | Record Label: Prestige Records
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