Track Listing

1. Chicago
2. Damn
3. Harlem River Drive
4. Just A Child
5. Blacks And Blues
6. Jasper Country Man
7. Baby's Gone

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32629 in Music
• Released on: 1999-02-15
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

A gentle genius
To describe this album as one of 'the pimpest' I've heard in a while may seem inappropriate but that's exactly what it is. "Jasper Country Man" is just so damn slick. I mean seriously 'cool'. It defines the word. On hearing it you feel converted into some 70s hustler cruising in his Cadillac (or whatever they drove) through downtown Harlem. Feel the white mink coat collar around your neck and the gold on your knuckles as the synths strut through the track. This is jazz funk with serious attitude.

Bobbi Humphreys' flute is an angelic presence in every track. She plays with such an easy grace and handles each melody with a gentle kind of genius. The arrangements allow her a fantastic arena to display her talents. I read somewhere that the two guys behind the production and arrangement were connected to Quincey Jones but can't be sure if I remember correctly but this is an indication of the album's callibre.

Some mention should go to how soulful the album is. It sounds like it's madly in love in places. Bobbi's rare vocal performance on "Lovechild" is a good example of this. Too silky to be called sacharine but very sweet indeed. "Baby's Gone" delivers the same kind of feel but far more dreamy. "Harlem River Drive" is probably the track most people will know Bobbi for and it's well placed in this album, characterising it if you will.

The whole piece is a unique work of art. It really has a feel of it's own. It may loosely be associated with Herbie Hancock's "Headhunters" to give an idea of it's arrangement structure, innovation and era. But the flute and vocal presence makes one think of Taste of Honey but this is stretching it to give those who haven't heard it an impression of what to expect.

This will mature in your collection and always commands a certain kind of respect when it's on. Great stuff.

Classic Mizell brothers
On "Chicago Damn," Bobbi Humphrey's flute meanders, arching in behind that funky keyboard, the music forming a formidable backdrop, soporific, transcendal.
"Harlem River Dance," is indeed possibly one of the pimpiest (does that word exist?) tracks you will hear on a record. It's just so damn smooth, from the flute bursts to the incessant chorus. Easily the best track on the album, another classic baseline.
"Blacks and Blues," is great; smooth, stylish Jazz, Humphrey's most subtle performance.
The one dud on the album has to be,"just a love child." It doesn't matter what the guy who writes the sleeve notes tries to tell you - Humphrey really sounds like a flutist trying her hand at singing, the whole composition just doesn't work.
Despite some minor flaws this is classic Mizell brothers work from the early 70's, a catchy fusion of soul, jazz and funk, undoubtedly a visionary sound.
Worth a place next to your Donald Byrd albums from the same era.

Beautiful & seductive - mellow, near perfection....
Downtown feel - big American cars - huge Afros - wide trousers - sweet soul music - exemplary flute work. Sweeps a man away above the dust and grime of the city, to deep blue skies and ocean landscapes.

This is a slice of heaven, no more no less.