Elegant Soul Explained
Elegant Soul is an album by jazz group The Three Sounds featuring performances with an orchestra arranged by Monk Higgins recorded in 1968 and released on the Blue Note label.[2]
Reception
The Allmusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 3½ stars stating "Elegant Soul was -- and could even be currently -- dismissed with a casual listen as lightweight pop with a compelling rhythmic sense. But that would be selling it way short. This album warrants close listening to discern all that's happening in its production and arrangements. Whether it's on the dancefloor, for sampling, for feel-good or deep listening, or for finger-popping, it satisfies on all levels".[3]
Track listing
- "Elegant Soul" (Virginia P. Bland) - 3:15
- "Do It Right Now" (Bland) - 6:20
- "Sittin' Duck" (Monk Higgins) - 9:18
- "(Sock It to Me) Harper Valley P.T.A." (Tom T. Hall) - 2:48
- "Sugar Hill" (Dee Ervin, Miles Grayson) - 2:48
- "African Sweets" (Ervin) - 4:30
- "Black Gold" (Grayson) - 3:29
- "Book of Slim" (Higgins) - 3:26
- "Walls of Respect" (Gene Harris, Higgins) - 3:13
- Recorded at RPM Studios, Los Angeles, California on September 19 (tracks 3, 4 & 8) and September 20 (tracks 1, 2, 5-7 & 9), 1968
Personnel
- Gene Harris - piano, organ
- Andrew Simpkins - bass
- Carl Burnett, Paul Humphrey - drums
- Monk Higgins - arranger, conductor
- Jim Horn - flute
- Bob Jung - reeds
- Dave Burk, Jesse Erlich, Henry Felber, Ron Fulsom, Louis Kievman, William Kurash, Leonard Malarsky, Ralph Schaeffer, Albert Steinberg, Tibor Zelig - violin
- Phil Goldberg, Leonard Selic - viola
- Jerry Kessler - cello
- Alan Estes - vibes
- Al Vescovo - guitar
- Dee Ervin, Miles Grayson - percussion
Notes and References
- Web site: BeatCaffeine's 100 Best Jazz-Funk Songs . https://web.archive.org/web/20180825081205/https://beatcaffeine.com/100-best-jazz-funk-songs/ . Gorton . TJ . BeatCaffeine . July 30, 2018 . August 25, 2018 . September 19, 2021.
- http://www.jazzdisco.org/blue-note-records/catalog-4300-series/#bst-84301 Blue Note discography
- Jurek, T. [{{AllMusic|class=album|id=elegant-soul-r156711/review|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic Review] accessed November 30, 2010