Reuben Wilson – The Cisco Kid (Groove Merchant GM 523, 1973)

Reuben Wilson – The Cisco Kid | Groove Merchant GM 523

Groove Merchant records 1973 ‎   GM 523

notes:

Reuben Wilson’s The Cisco Kid is a strong example of early-1970s
 soul-jazz and jazz-funk, released on Groove Merchant as GM 523 
in 1973. The album combines Wilson’s Hammond organ with the 
sharp guitar work of Melvin Sparks, Garnett Brown’s trombone, 
Bob Cranshaw’s bass, Mickey Roker’s drums and Ray Amando’s congas.

The record opens with “The Cisco Kid,” Wilson’s organ-driven 
interpretation of War’s 1973 funk hit. The program then moves 
through jazz, soul and pop material, including Gato Barbieri’s 
“Last Tango in Paris,” Curtis Mayfield’s “Superfly,” and the Carpenters
-associated standard “We’ve Only Just Begun.”

The second side is particularly interesting for collectors of organ
 jazz and groove-oriented jazz. Wilson contributes the originals 
“Snaps” and “Groove Grease,” before closing with Burt Bacharach 
and Hal David’s “The Look of Love.”

The result is a compact, groove-heavy session that sits comfortably
 between soul jazz, jazz-funk and early-1970s funk. The combination
 of Reuben Wilson’s organ and Melvin Sparks’ guitar gives the album 
much of its distinctive character.

credits:

 Art Direction – Sam Alexander 
 
Reuben Wilson — Hammond organ
Garnett Brown — trombone
Melvin Sparks — guitar
Bob Cranshaw — bass / electric bass
Mickey Roker — drums
Ray Amando — congas
 
Recorded: 1973, generally documented as early 1973
Location: New York City
Engineer: Malcolm Addey
Producer: Sonny Lester
Bell Sound Studios is documented for mastering,
 not necessarily recording

tracklist:

A1        The Cisco Kid
Written-By – Dickerson*, Miller*, Brown*, Scott*, Oskar*, Jordan*, Allen*
5:19
A2        The Last Tango In Paris
Written-By – G. Barbieri*
3:55
A3        Superfly
Written-By – Curtis Mayfield
4:53
A4        We've Only Just Begun
Written-By – P. Williams*, R. Nichols*
4:03
B1        Snaps
Written-By – R. Wilson*
7:17
B2        Groove Grease
Written-By – R. Wilson*
6:45
B3        The Look Of Love
Written-By – Bacharach/David*
5:15

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