Jazz
2 LPs on 1 CD:
* TRUE BLUE (1964)
* DOUBLE CROSS (1968)
Hank Crawford - Piano, Sax (Alto)
Bruno Carr - Drums
Carl Lott - Drums
Carl Lynch - Guitar
Charlie Green - Bass
David "Fathead" Newman - Sax (Tenor)
Edgar Willis - Bass
Fielder Floyd - Trumpet
Jack McDuff - Piano
James Clay - Sax (Tenor)
James Tyrell - Fender Jazz Bass
Joe Newman - Trumpet
John Hunt - Horn, Soloist, Trumpet
Julius Brooks - Trumpet
Leroy Cooper - Sax (Baritone)
Lewis Worrell - Bass
Melvin Lastie - Trumpet
Milt Turner - Drums
Pepper Adams - Sax (Baritone)
Sonny Forriest - Guitar
Tony Studd - Trombone
Wendell Harrison - Sax (Tenor)
Wilbert G.T. Hogan - Drums
Wilbur Brown - Sax (Tenor)
Tracks 1-10: True Blue
Tracks 11-18: Double Cross
Among the key songs from the vaults of Atlantic that are included on this collection are "Jimmy Mack," Quincy Jones' "In The Heat of the Night," and Crawford's own composition, "Skunky Green." Notable session players on "Double Cross" include Pepper Adams, David Newman and Jack McDuff.
* Arif Mardin - Producer
* Bruce Tergesen - Engineer
* James C. Moore - Cover Photo
* Joel Dorn - Liner Notes, Producer
* Loring Eutemey - Cover Design
* Nesuhi Ertegun - Supervisor
* Phil Lehle - Engineer
* Stanislaw Zagorski - Cover Illustration, Design
* Tom Dowd - Engineer
This two-fer from Collectables features a pair of out of print Hank Crawford LPs: True Blue and Double Cross, originally issued in 1964 and 1968, respectively. These 18 soul-jazz tracks include "Shake a Plenty," "Skunky Green'," and Martha & the Vandellas' hit "Jimmy Mack." This is an enjoyable reissue, although most listeners would be better served with Heart and Soul: The Hank Crawford Anthology on Rhino.
---Al Campbell, All Music Guide
Hank Crawford
Active Decades: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Dec 21, 1934 in Memphis, TN
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Crossover Jazz, Hard Bop, Jazz-Funk, R&B, Soul-Jazz
With an unmistakable blues wail, full of emotion and poignancy, altoist Hank Crawford bridges the gap between that tradition and that of jazz more completely than any other living horn player. Born in Memphis, Crawford was steeped in the blues tradition from an early age. He began playing piano but switched to alto when his father brought one home from the army. He claims his early influences as Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic, and Johnny Hodges. Crawford hung out with Phineas Newborn, Jr., Booker Little, and George Coleman in high school. Upon graduating, Crawford played in bands fronted by Ike Turner, B.B. King, Junior Parker, and Bobby "Blue" Bland at Memphis' Palace Theater and Club Paradise. In 1958 Crawford went to college in Nashville where he met Ray Charles. Charles hired Crawford originally as a baritone saxophonist. Crawford switched to alto in 1959 and remained with Charles' band -- becoming its musical director -- until 1963. The phrasing and voicings he learned there proved invaluable to him as the hallmark of his own sound. He also wrote and arranged a tune for Charles. The cut, "Sherry," his first for the band, was put on the Live at Newport album. Crawford cut a slew solo albums for Atlantic while with the band, and when he formed his group, he remained with the label until 1970. He signed with Creed Taylor's Kudu in 1971 and cut a series of fusion-y groove jazz dates through 1982. In 1983 he moved to Milestone and returned to form as a premier arranger, soloist, and composer, writing for small bands -- that included guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Jimmy McGriff, and Dr. John -- as well as large. Crawford has been constantly active since then, as a leader and sideman, recording the best music of his long career.
---Thom Jurek, All Music Guide |
