CHARLES EARLAND — Live at the Lighthouse (review)

CHARLES EARLAND — Live at the Lighthouse album cover Live album · 1972 · Soul Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
js
You could call ‘Live at the Lighthouse’ a soul jazz record, but it’s a lot more energetic than your typical laid back back-yard BBQ affair. Recoded live in the early 70s when so many jazz musicians were influenced by a certain African flavored psychedelic soul trip vibe, this album has a killer conga driven groove plus a lot of energetic solos that never allow for a dull moment. Earland’s B3 playing is solid throughout and would certainly appeal to fans of rockin jazzy Hammond players from Jack McDuff to Jon Lord.

Although Earland has released his share of commercial pop albums, the pop tunes on this album are merely launching pads for more hot groove based soloing. Sly Stone’s ‘Smiling’ in particular is transformed into a high energy rocker that amplifies the original version’s bright chord progressions. Another plus to the sound of this album is the three piece horn section which gives the band a mini-big band effect. This horn driven ensemble sound is used to great effect on their swingin version of ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’.

This album isn’t exactly high art, the formula is simple, great 70s styled grooves topped with loose high energy solos. Fans of similar conga-meets-B3 groove bands such as Santana, Jack McDuff, Brian Auger or Jimmy Smith’s ‘Root Down’ album will find a lot to like here.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Chateau Post-Fusion Contemporary
LUIZ AVELLAR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Gratitude Pop/Art Song/Folk
LUIZ AVELLAR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Possession Nu Jazz
SHABAKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Trio Plays Standards Post Bop
PABLO HELD
Buy this album from MMA partners
Unity Post-Fusion Contemporary
PABLO HELD
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Shabaka - Timepieces (Visualizer) ft. Billy Woods
SHABAKA
snobb· 5 hours ago
Raw Blues 2 Promo
DOUG MACLEOD
js· 9 hours ago
All I Had Was The Blues
DOUG MACLEOD
js· 9 hours ago
El Ausente - Classico Latino live in Colombia
CLASSICO LATINO
js· 20 hours ago
Barbara Blue - Sweet, Strong & Tight
BARBARA BLUE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed