Expédition Indigo Blue by Hank Crawford

Tracks:
All Alone And Blue
The Very Thought Of You
Things Aint What They Used To Be
Funny
Indigo Blue
Just For A Thrill

Performer Notes:

• Personnel: Hank Crawford (alto saxophone, electric piano); David Fathead Newman (tenor saxophone); Howard Johnson (baritone saxophone); Martin Banks, Danny Moore (trumpet); Dr. John (piano, organ); Melvin Sparks (guitar); Wilbur Bascomb (bass); Bernard Purdie (drums).
• Recorded at JAC Studio, New York, New York on August 22 & 23, 1983. Includes liner notes by Fred Goodman.
• Digitally remastered by George Horn (1991, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).
• Personnel: Hank Crawford (saxophone, alto saxophone, electric piano); Melvin Sparks (guitar); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Howard Johnson (baritone saxophone, tuba); Danny Moore, Danny Moore, Martin Banks (trumpet); Dr. John (piano, organ); Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (drums).
• Audio Remasterer: George Horn.
• Liner Note Author: Fred Goodman.
• Recording information: JAC Recording Studios, New York, NY (08/22/1983/08/23/1983).
• Photographer: Phil Bray.
• Arranger: Hank Crawford.
• Hank Crawfords Indigo Blue was released in August of 1983, less than a year after his excellent comeback set, Midnight Ramble, and proves that his renewed sense of creativity was no fluke. Here he teams once more with Dr. John on piano and organ and drummer Bernard Purdie. Melvin Sparks took over the guitar chair from Calvin Newborn, and Wilber Bascombe, Jr. holds down the rhythm section on bass. In addition, a horn section that includes David "Fathead" Newman, Danny Moore, Howard Johnson, and Martin Banks, arranged by Crawford, follows the same recipe as Midnight Ramble. The performances here are solid, truly impressive. Crawford plays sweet and slow as well as honking mean in getting at the root source of straight-ahead jazz and soul-jazz: the blues. And speaking of blues, the opener, "All Alone and Blue," is a barrelhouse of nasty guitar and organ work with Crawfords alto walking the bar while playing a mean solo. Its quite a changeup to open a set with -- but the only other thing you could do is close with it. This is followed by a gorgeous reading of Ray Nobles "The Very Thought of You," all slow, deep, and refined with only Crawfords alto allowed to bring in the edges. But there are more surprises as Crawford and band tackle Willie Nelsons "Funny" and reveal both the blues and jazz roots in the tune. The swing between Dr. John and Sparks in the title track is truly canny, and Crawfords response in blowing shows it. This one is in the cut, and the groove is everywhere. The bittersweet ballad "Just for a Thrill" ends the set, with some of the sweetest and most lyrical piano and alto playing either man had done on a record until that time. Indigo Blue is a winner; its hungry and elegant, sophisticated and swaggering. Its a trademark recording by Hank Crawford. ~ Thom Jurek

Producer: Bob Porter

Format: CD (1 Disc); Stereo

Country: USA

Studio/Live: Studio

Guest Artist: Dr. John; Bernard Purdie; David "Fathead" Newman; Howard Johnson

Release Date: 16 October, 2006

Label: Milestone Records