Johnny Lytle Trio - Moon Child

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:43
Size: 86.4 MB
Styles: Bop, Vibraphone jazz
Year: 1962/2013
Art: Front

[4:42] 1. Moon Child
[4:16] 2. The House Of Winchester
[6:37] 3. Work Song
[4:30] 4. The Nearness Of You
[4:37] 5. A Taste Of Honey
[4:32] 6. When My Dreamboat Comes Home
[3:59] 7. The Moor Man
[4:27] 8. Moonlight In Vermont

Bass – Steve Cooper; Congas [Conga Drums] – Ray Barretto; Drums – Peppy Hinnant; Organ – Milt Harris; Vibraphone [Vibes] – Johnny Lytle.

In the 1960s, jazz went in a variety of directions. On one hand, you had free jazz and avant-garde explorers who were extremely abstract and uncommercial; on the other hand, you had accessible soul-jazzers and organ combos that tried to attract the young listeners that jazz was losing to rock and R&B. Johnny Lytle was a prime example of the latter; accessibility and commercial appeal were things the vibist considered positive. That isn't to say that his albums were dumbed down --Moon Child is accessible and groove-minded, but it's also a swinging, creative collection of soul-jazz/hard bop. Produced by Orrin Keepnews in 1962, this vinyl LP has a lot going for it. Lytle is expressive and appealing on well known standards that range from Nat Adderley's "Work Song" to Hoagy Carmichael's "The Nearness of You," and he fares just as well on swinging originals that include the title song, "The Moor Man," and "The House of Winchester" (which was written in memory of vibist Lem Winchester). Gratefully, Lytle has a solid team to help him make this album come alive -- one that includes organist Milt Harris, bassist Steve Cooper, and drummer Peppy Hinnant. Conga giant Ray Barretto is added on lyrical performances of "Moonlight and Vermont" and "The Nearness of You," bringing Afro-Cuban touches to those standards. Moon Child was out of print for many years, but, in 2001, Fantasy pleasantly surprised us by reissuing this album and 1963's Got That Feeling! back to back on the same 75-minute CD. And that's a good thing, because Moon Child is a perfect example of how instrumental jazz can have commercial appeal without losing its integrity. ~Alex Henderson

Moon Child

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Bobby Timmons - Working Out

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:58
Size: 178,9 MB
Art: Front

(9:05)  1. Lela
(7:57)  2. Trick Hips
(2:40)  3. People
(9:11)  4. Bags' Groove
(8:36)  5. This Is All I Ask
(5:45)  6. Cut Me Loose Charlie
(7:08)  7. Tom Thumb
(7:21)  8. Einbahnstrasse (One Way Street)
(6:31)  9. Damned If I Know
(7:07) 10. Tenaj
(6:33) 11. Little Waltz

This CD reissues the contents of two of pianist Bobby Timmons most advanced recordings of the 1960s. For an example of how the popular pianist had continued to evolve after his early funk hits, listen to his often-bitonal solo on "Bags' Groove" from 1964. That session features Timmons in a quartet with vibraphonist Johnny Lytle, bassist Keter Betts and drummer William "Peppy" Hinnant and is filled with subtle surprises. The second recording is even more interesting for Timmons is teamed with tenor-saxophonist Wayne Shorter, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Jimmy Cobb in 1966. The immediately recognizable Shorter in particular plays very well (this version of his "Tom Thumb" is its earliest recording) and the very modern playing of Carter pushes Timmons to really stretch himself. Both of these generally overlooked sessions (even Shorter's best fans may not know about his collaboration with Timmons) were formerly rare and are quite adventurous, making this a highly recommended acquisition that falls somewhere between hard bop and the early avant-garde. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/workin-out-compilation-mw0000124323

Personnel: Bobby Timmons (piano); Johnny Lytle (vibraphone); Keter Betts (bass); William "Peppy" Hinnant (drums).

Working Out

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Johnny Lytle - The Sound Of Velvet Soul

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:23
Size: 71.9 MB
Styles: Vibraphone jazz, Soul jazz
Year: 1968/2011
Art: Front

[2:45] 1. Suddenly You
[2:38] 2. The Thing To Do
[1:58] 3. Live For Life
[2:24] 4. We're Bluesin'
[4:02] 5. Under The Rising Sun
[4:09] 6. Street Scene
[3:48] 7. L.A. Soul
[4:08] 8. Somewhere
[2:28] 9. Up, Up, And Away
[2:58] 10. On A Clear Day

Sol Schlinger (baritone saxophone) Joe Farrell, Seldon Powell, Jerome Richardson, Frank Wess (saxophone) Johnny Lytle (vibraphone) Richard Davis (bass) Mel Lewis (drums) Johnny Pacheco (percussion).

Considered one of the top vibes players in the world, Johnny Lytle was known for his great hand speed and showmanship. He was also a songwriter and wrote many of his own hits, including "The Loop," "The Man," "Lela," "Selim," and the jazz classic "The Village Caller." Lytle recorded more than 30 albums for various jazz labels including Tuba, Jazzland, Solid State, and Muse. Throughout his career he performed and recorded with jazz greats the likes of Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, Miles Davis, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Timmons, and Roy Ayers. The devoted father of three also featured his son, Marcel Lytle, on several of his recordings as a vocalist and drummer. Lytle was such an admirer of the music of the late great Miles Davis that he wrote "Selim" (Miles spelled backwards) in honor of Davis, which features Davis' former pianist Wynton Kelly. Lytle never recorded with any of the major record labels, and that could be why he never gained the status of a jazz icon like some of his peers. Lytle felt that he would lose control of his music and creative development; Lytle liked to play what came natural to him, and being with a major label might not have afforded him that opportunity.

Johnny Lytle grew up in a family of music, the son of a trumpeter father and an organist mother. He began playing the drums and piano at an early age. Before studying music in earnest, Lytle lent his hands to boxing, and was a successful Golden Gloves champion. During the late '50s, Lytle landed jobs as a drummer for Ray Charles and others, and he also continued to box. But by 1960, the energetic Lytle had laid down his gloves and, inspired by the great Lionel Hampton, picked up the mallets, turning his full attention toward the vibraphone. He started a jazz band and began recording for the famed jazz label Riverside Records under the direction of Grammy-winning producer Orrin Keepnews.

Lytle found success early in his career with chart-topping albums like A Groove, The Loop, and Moon Child. From his swinging uptempo tracks to his soul-satisfying ballads, Lytle knew how to keep a groove. And with a nickname like "Fast Hands," he could always keep the attention of an audience. In addition to his musicianship, his gregarious personality made him a popular attraction on the jazz circuit. Even though Lytle did not experience the same success he was privileged to during the '60s, he did continue to record and build a respectable catalog of music with recordings in the '70s,'80s, and '90s. Lytle remained a popular concert attraction in the U.S. and Europe; his last performance was with the Springfield (Ohio) Symphony Orchestra in his hometown in November 1995. At the time of his death in the following month, Lytle was scheduled to begin recording a new CD on the Muse label. ~bio by Craig Lytle

The Sound Of Velvet Soul

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Johnny Lytle - S/T

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 36:49
Size: 84.3 MB
Styles: Vibraphone jazz
Year: 1970/2008
Art: Front

[3:58] 1. Memphis To K.C.
[7:21] 2. Mine
[3:12] 3. Walk A Soul Mile
[3:34] 4. Bag A Bones
[5:44] 5. Babo
[5:33] 6. One For Carter
[3:26] 7. Big Wheel
[3:58] 8. Save Your Love For Me

This LP has never been on CD before, and the original LP was never released outside of Europe. This was one of a series of European-only LPs featuring various jazz musicians. Fans have been clamoring for this album for quite some time. The date of this release is thought to be around 1970.

Johnny Lytle (vibes); Albert Dailey (keys); Chester Thompson (drums). The rest of the musicians are unknown, though instruments include piano, organ, conga, drums, electric guitar, and upright bass. Not every instrument is featured on every track.

What we have is a collection of funky soul-jazz/R&B, much of it with a distinctly down-home feel. "Mine" is somewhat of a departure, as it wades heavily into Cal Tjader-esque Latin-jazz territory, and it's a real pleasure, clocking in at a satisfying 7:20. "Babo" is a uptempo funky mod workout, which has appeared on some funky compilations. "Walk A Soul Mile" is a easy-grooving funk excursion that could have been a contender for a Sanford & Son theme song, and has been confirmed as a Johnny Lytle composition. It's not unlike Organ Combo music which is being played in some bars to this very day. The tracks I've mentioned are fantastic, but in reality every track is a winner. ~Jasper/amazon

Johnny Lytle

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