Blue Break Beats, Vol. 3

Performer: Various Artists
Producer: Dean Rudland (Compilation); Tony Harlow (Compilation)
Distributor: EMI Music Distribution

Notes: This is part of Blue Note's The Blue Series. Personnel: Joe Williams , Lou Rawls (vocals); Keg Johnson (tenor, background vocals); David Spinozza (guitar, sitar); David T. Walker, Al Vescovo, Fred Robinson , Gene Bertoncini, Craig McMullen, John Rowin, Jimmy Ponder, Melvin Sparks, Sam Herman (guitar); Gene Bianco (harp, vibraphone); Al Gibbons (flute, bass clarinet, alto saxophone); Pepper Adams (bass clarinet, saxophone); Ernie Watts (reeds); Eddie Daniels, Joe Farrell (saxophone); Cannonball Adderley (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Jerome Richardson (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Jackie McLean, Lou Donaldson (alto saxophone); Frank Foster, Lew Tabackin, Tyree Glenn (tenor saxophone); Donald Byrd (trumpet, flugelhorn); Fonce Mizell (trumpet, Clavinet); Richard Gene Williams , Ray Brown , Eddie Williams , Marvin Stamm, Oscar Brashear, Randy Brecker, Snooky Young, Woody Shaw, Thad Jones, Bill Berry, Joe Shepley, Jimmy Nottingham, Blue Mitchell, Burt Collins (trumpet); Nat Adderley (cornet); Sidney Muldrow (French horn); George Bohannon (trombone, background vocals); Garnett Brown, Grachan Moncur III, Julian Priester, Tom McIntosh, Benny Powell, Bob Brookmeyer, Cliff Heather (trombone); Kenny Rupp (bass trombone); Gene Harris (piano, keyboards); Duke Pearson, Jerry Peters, LaMont Johnson, Larry Mizell, Roland Hanna (piano); Skip Scarborough (electric piano); Dr. Lonnie Smith , Monk Higgins, Reuben Wilson, Ronnie Foster, Charles Earland (organ); Joe Zawinul (keyboards); George Devens (vibraphone); Chuck Rainey, Gordon Edwards, Luther Hughes (electric bass); Leo Morris, Rick Davis , Jimmy Johnson, Jr. , Harvey Mason, Sr. , Carl Burnette, Mel Lewis, Mickey Roker, Rashied Ali , Roy McCurdy (drums); Hall Bobby Porter, King Errisson, Arthur Jenkins (congas); Mayuto Correa, Gordon "Specs" Powell, Paul Humphrey , Ray Armando (percussion); Luther Waters, Ann Esther, Lynn Mack, Julia Tillman Waters, Trisha Chamberlain, Maxine Willard Waters, Oren Waters (background vocals). Liner Note Authors: Dean Rudland; Tony Harlow. Director: Duke Pearson. Arrangers: Duke Pearson; Jerry Peters; Johnny Harris; Monk Higgins; Wade Marcus. Blue Note's Blue Break Beats series spotlights songs from their vaults that have been sampled for various hip-hop and techno tracks. As a result, it's been one of their most popular and entertaining series of the '90s, and for good reason -- this funky soul-jazz lends itself to compilations much easier than bop, since the groove is the only thing that matters. Unfortunately, the compilers of Vol. 3 don't always keep that in mind. Much of the collection is weighed down with vocal cuts like Shirley Bassey's "Light My Fire" and Jackie McLean's "Soul," which intercuts nearly free bop with beat poetry. While these are interesting in their own right, they stop the momentum of the disc cold. However, the remainder of Blue Break Beats, Vol. 3 is on par with its two predecessors, featuring funky soul-jazz from the likes of Cannonball Adderley and Lou Donaldson. These are the tracks that can be sampled effectively, and they make for excellent listening in their own right. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

JazzTimes (10/97, p.85) - "...everyone should find at least one groove here to get off on..."

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