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James Gaiters' Soul Revival: Understanding Reimagined
ByIt is, alas, difficult to follow a classic. Harold Alexander was a pretty fair saxophonist when giants walked the Earth. Edwin Bayard is a good player as well, but the saxophone has evolved so much that even a fair R&B player is apt to get lost in the shuffle today. Robert Mason is also a nice player, but John Patton was, at least on Understanding (Blue Note, 1968), having a pretty good day. And so it goes with almost everything else on this recording. James Gaiters is an accomplished drummer and has played with Mulgrew Miller, Terell Stafford, and James Carter, among many others. But a self-inflicted desire to urge comparisons with a Blue Note classic is a case of "careful what you wish for." Some of the soloists seem to run out of ideas before they run out of time, which is a pity. Fortunately, Gaiters never really runs out of energy.
If this recording only makes younger listeners curious about the kind of sounds that dominated the FM airwaves back in the '60s and '70s, it will have done a valuable service. And they will hear some interesting music, revived and reimagined, as well.
Track Listing
Ding Ding; Soul Man; Alfie's Theme; Chitlins Con Carne; Understanding; Congo Chant
Personnel
James Gaiters
drumsEdwin Bayard
saxophone, tenorKevin Turner
guitarRobert Mason
organ, Hammond B3Album information
Title: Understanding Reimagined | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Self-Produced
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