Hammond heroes

Johnny Lewis Quartet- Shuckin' and Jivin' (1972) Jaro Records
Johnny Lewis- Live Dance Set (1975)

"Cissy Strut" MP3

Good old Luv n' Haight remastered and released "Shuckin' and Jivin' on cd which is another gem they have given a new breathe life. D. W. Smith from Luv n' Haight has a great quote in the liner notes. He says: "There are two kinds of rare records: those that everybody has heard about and only a few people actually have, and those that only a few people have even heard about. Shuckin' and Jivin' falls into the latter category. It's a burning record of early 70's jazz funk, but until now, has been hard to come by."

The cd is made up of the full original album plus two bonus tracks from the 1975 Live Dance Set- "Cissy Strut" and "Them Changes". Every song on the album was recorded live with Johnny Lewis on tenor, alto, baritone sax, trumpet, fluegal horn, mmeloponium, and conga drums. Kenneth Drake is on drums, Joe Villa on guitar, and James "Moody" Thompson demolishing the Hammond B3 organ and Horner Clavinet. The quartet has a nice balance of soulful, quiet songs such as "Willow Weep For Me" but also brings the funk with originals like "Shuckin' and Jivin". I chose to put up their live cover of the Meter's clasic "Cissy Strut" because Moody Thompson rides that B3 solo to the next level.

Buy this one from Luv n' Haight or dig to China trying to find it now.