Gettin' Down To It

Performer: James Brown
Producer: James Brown
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: James Brown (vocals); Marva Whitney (vocals); Kenny Poole, Lee Garrett (guitar); Frank Vincent (piano); Lee Tucker (bass instrument); Dee Felice (drums); Dee Felice Trio. Recording information: King Studios, Cincinnati, Ohio (12/1968 - 03/1969). Along with SOUL ON TOP, GETTING' DOWN TO IT is one of James Brown's often-overlooked late-1960s forays into jazz. While the Godfather of Soul, backed by a piano trio, doesn't leave his boundless energy behind here, he is clearly in a more laid-back mood throughout most of this 12-song set, channeling his idol Frank Sinatra on tunes such as "Strangers in the Night" and "It Had to Be You." Though some of these songs work better than others, the conceit is undeniably interesting, and Brown hits the most impressive notes on a rollicking reading of "That's Life" and a beautifully gentle take on "All the Way." Not a disc for the casual Brown fan, GETTING' DOWN TO IT serves as a fascinating detour on the beloved performer's singular career path.

Mojo (Publisher) (p.144) - 4 star out of 5 -- "Best of all...are Mr. Dynamite's finger-clicking jazz versions of his funk classics, 'Cold Sweat' and 'There Was A Time'."

The unrelenting intensity of James Brown's music has made him one of the most recognizable and influential performers since the 1950s. Starting out as a gospel singer, Brown soon switched to R&B and started scoring hits. As the '60s progressed, the self-proclaimed Godfather of Soul transformed the sounds of R&B into a tight, driving style that helped lay the foundations of funk. Personal troubles over the following decades threatened to sideline the ever-impassioned Brown, but he repeatedly bounced back. Countless JB samples--credited and uncredited--found on rap and hip-hop records testify to his enduring influence. The Godfather of Soul passed away on Christmas Day in 2006.

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