BOBBI HUMPHREY — Blacks and Blues (review)

BOBBI HUMPHREY — Blacks and Blues album cover Album · 1974 · Funk Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
darkprinceofjazz
If ever there was an album for driving around with the top down on a hot summer night, Blacks and Blues is it. I can see no flaws in the music what so ever, if you take it for what it is, a Contemporary jazz funk album, The music just feels urban, it feels like a party in the heart NYC.

It can not be overlooked the contribution of the Brothers Mizell, Larry and Fonce, with all the compositions and arrangements from the pair, Bobbi Humphrey has a nice voice on flute, obviously this album is a studio creation, with many session players, but unlike The Donald Byrd Mizell brothers produced albums like Black Byrd, Bobbi gets quite a bit of solo space, and the album feels more like hers than some of those other albums did, she really stretches out in the R&B; setting, this music is not really jazz, and that's ok, it's roots are still in the Blues, and any music that is that, is OK by me, The synth work is quite good, and never gets tasteless as some funk can get, but it's not so safe that I would want to fall asleep, Bobbi also sings 2 ballads "Just a Love Child" and "Baby's Gone", her first on record, you would never confuse her for Aretha Franklin, that for sure, but her light voice is a nice rest from the harder groovers.

"Harlem River Drive" and "Chicago Damn" are the ringers on Blacks and Blues, they are easily, "stone funk classics", with fantastic stock back ground singing by the Mizell brothers. The overall mood of the album is just so positive and absorbing, I can't find anything wrong with it.
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js wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Nice review, just happens I'm listening to the Blakbyrds right now, ha.

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