Fats Theus - Black Out (1970/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Hard and heavy funky jazz from west coast tenorist Fats Theus – and one of the rarest albums on CTI! This one differs strongly from the label's smoother electric output – as it's got the rough n ready feel of a classic Prestige jazz funk session. Fats is backed by an all star group that includes Hilton Felder on organ, Grant Green on guitar, Idris Muhammad on drums, and Chuck Rainey on bass – and it kind of sounds like Fats is playing an electric tenor, or a Varitone, which gives the set the feel of some of the Lou Donaldson funk albums on Blue Note! Cuts include "Black Out", "Bed Of Nails", "Stone Flower", and "Check It Out".

Although its headliner remains little-known, saxophonist Fats Theus' Black Out boasts a most impressive pedigree – one of the first releases on producer Creed Taylor's fledgling CTI imprint, its supporting cast includes soul-jazz demigods Grant Green on guitar, Chuck Rainey on bass, and Idris Muhammad on drums. The level of musicianship across the record's six tracks is absurdly high – if anything, Theus is the weak link in the chain, with bop-oriented solos that occasionally lean toward woodenness in comparison with the sublime funkiness of his collaborators. Taylor's production is nevertheless inventive – the opening cut "Bed of Nails" even features a musical saw – and unlike some of his other CTI efforts, Black Out avoids smooth jazz trappings in favor of raw, down-and-dirty grooves.

Tracklist:

01 - Black Out
02 - Light Sings
03 - Bed Of Nails
04 - Stone Flower
05 - Moonlight In Vermont
06 - Check It Out

Produced by Creed Taylor. Engineered by Rudy Van Gelder.
Recorded on July 16 & 22, 1970 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey.

Musicians:
Fats Theus - tenor saxophone
Grant Green - guitar
Clarence Palmer - organ on "1"
Hilton Felton - organ
Jimmy Lewis - bass
Chuck Rainey - bass
Idris Muhammad - drums
Eddie Moore - saw


Thanks to the Original customer!