Within You Without You
Arranged And Conducted By Richard Evans
Engineer: Doug Brand
Album Production & Supervision: Esmond Edwards
Cover Photo: Don S. Bronstein
Album Design: Jerry Griffith
Recorded June & July, 1967 at Ter Mar Studios, Chicago
Cadet Records LPS 796
1967
Group members include: Sol A. Bobrov and David Chausow - Violin, Arthur Ahlman and Harold Kupper - Viola, Karl B. Fruh, Emil Mittermann and Theodore Ratzer - Cello, Charles Stepney - Organ and Vibes, Lenard Druss and Vernice Green - Sax and Flute, Ronald Steel and Philip Upchurch - Guitar, Cleveland Eaton and Louis Satterfield - Bass, Philip R. Thomas - Bongos and Conga and Morris Jennings, Jr. - Drums.
Cadet Records LPS 796
1967
Group members include: Sol A. Bobrov and David Chausow - Violin, Arthur Ahlman and Harold Kupper - Viola, Karl B. Fruh, Emil Mittermann and Theodore Ratzer - Cello, Charles Stepney - Organ and Vibes, Lenard Druss and Vernice Green - Sax and Flute, Ronald Steel and Philip Upchurch - Guitar, Cleveland Eaton and Louis Satterfield - Bass, Philip R. Thomas - Bongos and Conga and Morris Jennings, Jr. - Drums.
From the back cover: For a number of years I've had a great appreciation for the sound of string instru- ments. A violin section can and has provided magnificent backings for vocalists and instrumentalists. As a matter of fact, I've sometimes been so carried away listening to what's going on in the background that I've eliminated the soloist almost entirely from my mind, mentally up-staging those guys in the back that add that special something. On a smaller scale it's like guitarist Freddie Green with the Basie band.
When I first heard about The Soulful Strings, my first reaction was: the soulful what? In case you're not aware, may I refer you to the first album, Paint It Black (Cadet LP&LPS-776). The idea of doing an album of soulful strings was the brain-child of Cadet A&R director, Esmond Edwards (the quiet genius). He could well have called this group "The Funky Strings" because they certainly put to rest all the old sayings about strings not swinging, not having soul, etc. The sound of The Soulful Strings is refreshingly new.
And now comes this, their second album... appropriately titled Groovin'. As in the first, the arranging, conducting, and spotlighting of the soloists rested on the shoulders of brilliant arranger Richard Evans. The result is another beautiful, swingin', cookin' and magnificent performance by The Soulful Strings.
The album opens with an Evans original entitled Burning Spear which completely captivated me the first time I heard it. I thought of the Far East, and then Lennie Druss allowed me to almost see the burning spear he's holding in his hand. Lennie's "spear" is really a flute. This track also features the guitar of Phil Upchurch. It's an imaginative bit of material and sounds like something Miriam Makeba might sing.
Miles Davis' All Blues gets a fresh treatment with the strings gliding through the melody line. Upchurch takes over again. Frankly, I wanted this track to last a bit longer.
What Now My Love receives one of the nicest instrumental arrangements I've ever heard. It's flavored with "funk" until the strings come in and soulfully sweeten it. Prepare yourself for the weird, haunting melody of Beatle George Harrison's composition, Within You Without You, featuring Ron Steele on sitar. It's like viewing an abstract painting-the more you listen, the more you see... or hear. Indeed, the day has arrived for strings to have soul. Pay particular attention to track five on side one, Our Day Will Come.
Soul Prelude, which opens side two, may sound a bit familiar. It's based on a Bach composition and given a "soul" adaptation by Esmond Edwards. The Young Rascals hit, Groovin', is one of my very favorite rock tunes and ever since I first heard their record, I've been looking forward to hearing a really exciting instrumental version of it. The treatment here, featuring Bunky Green on flute, is exactly that... exciting!
Next, the strings set a beautiful mood for Lennie Druss, switching to alto sax, play- ing Alfie. It's a favorite song by almost anybody, but Lennie gives it that special "heart- achey" feeling. It builds into a storm and after the storm comes the calm... but only for a few seconds. The following track takes you right back into a groove with Comin' Home Baby, which was popularized by Herbie Mann. Here the drummer provides what Herbie Mann refers to as "that boom-chitty beat." Nice solos here, too, by Bunky, Phil Upchurch and a vibrant vibe solo by Charles Stepney. The final track is / Know I'm Losing You which features the crying soprano saxophone of Bunky Green . . . a very convincing solo by Mr. Green.
If you've been listening to the album while reading these notes, you're way ahead of the game. If you haven't, start playing it now-you're missing some delightful musical moments. – Yvonne Daniels WSDM-FM, Chicago
Another Exposure
The Soulful Strings
Arranged And Conducted By Richard Evans
Cadet Records LPS 805
1968
When I first heard about The Soulful Strings, my first reaction was: the soulful what? In case you're not aware, may I refer you to the first album, Paint It Black (Cadet LP&LPS-776). The idea of doing an album of soulful strings was the brain-child of Cadet A&R director, Esmond Edwards (the quiet genius). He could well have called this group "The Funky Strings" because they certainly put to rest all the old sayings about strings not swinging, not having soul, etc. The sound of The Soulful Strings is refreshingly new.
And now comes this, their second album... appropriately titled Groovin'. As in the first, the arranging, conducting, and spotlighting of the soloists rested on the shoulders of brilliant arranger Richard Evans. The result is another beautiful, swingin', cookin' and magnificent performance by The Soulful Strings.
The album opens with an Evans original entitled Burning Spear which completely captivated me the first time I heard it. I thought of the Far East, and then Lennie Druss allowed me to almost see the burning spear he's holding in his hand. Lennie's "spear" is really a flute. This track also features the guitar of Phil Upchurch. It's an imaginative bit of material and sounds like something Miriam Makeba might sing.
Miles Davis' All Blues gets a fresh treatment with the strings gliding through the melody line. Upchurch takes over again. Frankly, I wanted this track to last a bit longer.
What Now My Love receives one of the nicest instrumental arrangements I've ever heard. It's flavored with "funk" until the strings come in and soulfully sweeten it. Prepare yourself for the weird, haunting melody of Beatle George Harrison's composition, Within You Without You, featuring Ron Steele on sitar. It's like viewing an abstract painting-the more you listen, the more you see... or hear. Indeed, the day has arrived for strings to have soul. Pay particular attention to track five on side one, Our Day Will Come.
Soul Prelude, which opens side two, may sound a bit familiar. It's based on a Bach composition and given a "soul" adaptation by Esmond Edwards. The Young Rascals hit, Groovin', is one of my very favorite rock tunes and ever since I first heard their record, I've been looking forward to hearing a really exciting instrumental version of it. The treatment here, featuring Bunky Green on flute, is exactly that... exciting!
Next, the strings set a beautiful mood for Lennie Druss, switching to alto sax, play- ing Alfie. It's a favorite song by almost anybody, but Lennie gives it that special "heart- achey" feeling. It builds into a storm and after the storm comes the calm... but only for a few seconds. The following track takes you right back into a groove with Comin' Home Baby, which was popularized by Herbie Mann. Here the drummer provides what Herbie Mann refers to as "that boom-chitty beat." Nice solos here, too, by Bunky, Phil Upchurch and a vibrant vibe solo by Charles Stepney. The final track is / Know I'm Losing You which features the crying soprano saxophone of Bunky Green . . . a very convincing solo by Mr. Green.
If you've been listening to the album while reading these notes, you're way ahead of the game. If you haven't, start playing it now-you're missing some delightful musical moments. – Yvonne Daniels WSDM-FM, Chicago
Inner Light
The Soulful Strings
Arranged And Conducted By Richard Evans
Cadet Records LPS 805
1968
too much! and awesome type font ta boot. You know the more I listened to that track I could almost imagine it being used as the loop track for some hip-hop, rap "song".... almost.
ReplyDeleteanyways outstanding man.
Awesome! Love this song. Always! Not often one that's covered...Patti Smith did a remarkable cover of it more recently. Love the sitar!
ReplyDelete