10 Favorite Fender Rhodes Albums

Back in March, I posted about John Von Ohlen's The Baron (1973), a superb Fender Rhodes album. As mentioned back then, I'm a bit of a Rhodes nut, having fallen in love with the electric piano in the early 1970s in high school. I also hinted in my post that I planned on sharing my top 10 Fender Rhodes albums, which resulted in a hailstorm of emails asking me when that post would go up. So today I'm making good on my promise.

My favorite Rhodes albums go beyond this list, but let's start with 10: 

Second Direction—Four Corners (1976). Second Direction was a German group featuring Fritz Munzer (fl,sop,as,arr), Karl Heinz Merkel (el-p,el-strings), Gerhard Spirka (el-b), Val Hargreaves (d) and Jorg Gebhardt (cga).

Here's the full album...



Bill Evans—From Left to Right (1971). This album has always divided Bill Evans fans into those who despise the record and those who love it. I'm in the latter camp. I love its moodiness. It featured Evans on acoustic piano and Fender Rhodes, and was recorded in 1969 and '70 with bassist Eddie Gómez and drummer Marty Morell, and an orchestra arranged and conducted by Michael Leonard.

Here's the full album...



Sonny Stitt—Tornado, Featuring Eddie Russ (1974). Eddie Russ was a soul-jazz keyboardist who was featured exclusively here on the Rhodes. The album featured a few originals and a couple of contemporary pop songs.

Here's Russ, without Stitt, playing By My Side...



Ahmad Jamal—Ahmad Jamal '73 (1973). This gem featured Ahmad Jamal on the Fender Rhodes backed by an orchestra arranged and conducted by Richard Evans.

Here's the full album...



Hampton Hawes—Universe (1972). Often a percussive player, Hawes here falls in the love with the Rhodes and plays mellow and introspective. The band featured Oscar Brashear (tp), Harold Land (ts), Hampton Hawes (el-p,org,synt), Arthur Adams (g), Chuck Rainey (el-b) and Leon “Ndugu" Chancler (d).

Here's the full album...



Frank Cunimondo Trio—Sagittarius (1976). The Pittsburgh pianist is largely unknown today, despite having appeared on the Tonight Show in the early 1960s and having released quite a few albums. His trio here featured Frank Cunimondo (keyboards,synt,cga,cabasa,string ensemble), Ray Russell (b) and Lenny Rodgers (d).

Here's Sagittarius...



Michael Naura Quartet—Call (1975). Naura was a German jazz pianist. On this album, the group fetured Wolfgang Schluter (vib), Michael Naura (el-p), Eberhard Weber (b) and Joe Nay (d).

Here's the full album...



Masabumi Kikuchi—A Short Story For Image: Hairpin Circus (original soundtrack) (1972). Kikuchi was a Japanese jazz pianist and composer. On the album, he was backed by Kohsuke Mine (ss), Masabumi Kikuchi (p,el-p), Masahiro Kikuchi (org), Yoshio “Chin" Suzuki (b,el-b), Motohiko Hino and Yoshiyuki Nakamura (d).

Here's the full album...



Ramsey Lewis—Upendo Ni Pamoja (1973). Featured on this album by the father of soul-jazz was Ramsey Lewis (p,el-p), Cleveland Eaton (b,el-b) and Morris Jennings (d,perc).

Here's the full album...



Gene Russell—Talk to My Lady (1973). Russell was a soul-jazz keyboardist and founder of the Black Jazz label in the early 1970s. Featured on this album: Gene Russell (p,el-p,recitation), Calvin Keys (g), Henry Franklin (b), Leon “Ndugu" Chancler (d), Charles Weaver (cga) and Eddie Ghee (tamb).

Here's the full album...