Charles Earland - Living Black! (1970)

Recorded in 1970 at the Key Club, Living Black! is notable for many reasons, not the least of which is that it showcased Earland in a live setting at his most inspired. From choosing his sidemen to material to reading the audience to pure instrumental execution, there isn't a weak moment on this date, nor a sedentary one. Earland makes the band roll on all burners from the git and never lets up. Consisting of four extended tunes, there's the burning rhythm and stomp of "Key Club Cookout," which blazes with wisdom and rhythm fire. Earland's own soloing is revelatory, but it is the way he drags absolutely unexpected performances from his sidemen that makes him so special as a bandleader. In this case, Grover Washington never played like this again on a record; deep in the soul groove on his tenor, he turned it inside out, looking for new embouchures in which to get the sounds out of the horn. He dug deep inside his trick bag and left no one wanting. Likewise, guitarist Maynard Parker, who came from the Chicago blues school, gets to exercise that side of his West Side soul personality -- check out his break on "Westbound No. 9." The long blues strut of "Killer Joe" is what drives the tune, the longest track on the record. It features a slow, strolling horn line from Washington and trumpeter Gary Chandler that opens out onto a gorgeously pastoral frame before popping out with the blues feel once again. Parker's guitar playing fills all the places Earland chooses not to, so the band's density is total. There is a moving and instrumentally astonishing short version of "Milestones" that closes the set, but it wasn't even necessary. Everybody who was there, no doubt -- as well as any listener with blood instead of sawdust in her or his veins -- had their minds blown long before.

By Thom Jurek in All Music Guide

Styles:
Jazz Funk
Soul Jazz

Tracks:
01 - Key Club Cookout (09:31)
02 - Westbound No. 9 (08:19)
03 - Killer Joe (14:28)
04 -Milestones (04:34)
05 - More Today Than Yesterday (08:20)
06 -Message from a Black Man (09:59)

Line-up:
Charles Earland - organ
Grover Washington Jr. - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
Maynard Parker - guitar
Gary Chandler - trumpet
Jesse Kilpatrick - drums
Buddy Caldwell - congas

Charles Earland - Black Talk! (1969)

This CD reissue of a Prestige date is one of the few successful examples of jazz musicians from the late '60s taking a few rock and pop songs and turning them into creative jazz. Organist Charles Earland and his sextet, which includes trumpeter Virgil Jones, Houston Person, on tenor and guitarist Melvin Sparks, perform a variation of "Eleanor Rigby" titled "Black Talk," two originals, a surprisingly effective rendition of "Aquarius," and a classic rendition of "More Today Than Yesterday." Fans of organ combos are advised to pick up this interesting set.

By Scott Yanow in All Music Guide

Styles:
Jazz Funk
Soul

Tracks:
01 - Black Talk (07:50)
02 - The Mighty Burner (03:04)
03 - Here Comes Charlie (08:18)
04 - Aquarius (08:02)
05 - More Today Than Yesterday (11:13)

Line-up:
Charles Earland - organ
Houston Person - tenor saxophone
Virgil Jones - trumpet
Melvin Sparks - guitar
Idris Muhammad - drums
Buddy Caldwell -congas