CHARLES EARLAND — Black Talk (review)

CHARLES EARLAND — Black Talk album cover Album · 1970 · Soul Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
js
“Black Talk” is a good solid set of hard bop/funk/soul jazz from one of the masters of the funky B3, Charles Earland. There isn’t anything particularly surprising on here, but at the same time there are no weaknesses either, the band keeps a no-nonsense groove from beginning to end. Side one consists of three Earland originals; “Black Talk” is old school proto-funk, “The Mighty Burner” is uptempo conga driven swing and “Here Comes Charlie” brings back the jazzy bluesy proto-funk with good lengthy solos from everyone.

On side two their version of “Aquarius” avoids the song’s usual heavy-handed dramatic clichés and instead goes for an abstract uptempo Latin post-bop feel. The album closes with a medium swing version of the old classic “More than Yesterday”. Although this song is less modern than the others, the players have a lot of fun with it. Guitarist Melvin Sparks is particularly inspired on this one with an odd humorous solo that borders on the avant-garde. The presence of a small horn section always brings so much to music like this. This isn’t Earland’s best record, but its much better than a lot of the disco stuff he would do later.
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