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Various Artists: Legends of Acid Jazz: Hammond Heroes

By Douglas Payne
June 1, 1998
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Various Artists: Legends of Acid Jazz: Hammond Heroes

Legends of Acid Jazz-Hammond Heroes offers few advantages more than a gathering of solid soul-jazz tunes. It is, however, a decent (if not essential) collection of "Hammond heroes." But nearly every track here actually pre-dates what has come to be considered "acid jazz." If Prestige were to tap the Hammond heroes of its acid jazz period, you'd see names like Leon Spencer, Charles Kynard, Bill Mason or Sonny Phillips and later offerings by Groove Holmes or Johnny "Hammond" Smith.

Nomenclature aside, this 72-minute disc does offer swinging soul jazz by some of the genre's more memorable B-3 wizards: Jack McDuff (in three appearances here), Shirley Scott, Larry Young and Don Patterson. Two welcome inclusions are the otherwise unavailable "One Track Mind," a 1966 track by Freddie Roach, and "Take Five," a 1967 recording by Trudy Pitts (with Pat Martino). Better suited to a sock hop than a rave, Legends of Acid Jazz-Hammond Heroes will appeal more to curious listeners than real B-3 fans.

Tracks:Willis Jackson: Please Mr. Jackson (1959); Shirley Scott: Takin' Care of Business (1958); Arnett Cobb featuring Austin Mitchell: Smooth Sailing (1959); Johnny "Hammond" Smith: Sticks and Stones (1961); Jimmy Forrest featuring Larry Young: Remember (1960); Gene Ammons featuring Jack McDuff: Twistin' the Jug (1961); Red Holloway featuring John Patton: Crib Theme (1963); Jack McDuff: Rock Candy (1963); Willis Jackson featuring Carl Wilson: Pool Shark (1963); Don Patterson: Donald Duck (1964); Richard "Groove" Holmes: Misty (1965); Freddie Roach: One Track Mind (1966); Trudy Pitts: Take Five (1967).

Personnel

Various Artists

various

Album information

Title: Legends of Acid Jazz: Hammond Heroes | Year Released: 1998 | Record Label: Prestige Records

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