Over the past 9 months there have been times when I feel like being at my house is like living in Pompeii. Everything was frozen into place by an event that I knew would happen someday but it still felt like a surprise when it actually happened. The last few months I have awakened from my slumber and been digging out from under that event. It is always a surprise to find something that Ross left, just as it was. This Masters of Groove's CD was in the CD player's turntable, which I only got around to opening up and turning on recently. I remember him listening to this all the time but, as has happened with other CDs of his, I never really heard the music.
The Masters of Groove are essentially four guys, Reuben "Funky" Wilson on the organ, Grant Green, Jr. on the guitar, Tarus "Mean" Mateen on the bass, and Bernard "Pretty" Purdue on the drums. Gotta love those nicknames. I wonder why Grant didn't get one. The CD cover says that they are all-star jazz-soul-funk-groove veterans who are taking on the music from the first Bond adventure film "Dr. No." Yes, you read that right, the music from the first Bond film. Truthfully, the only music I ever thought was in the movie was the Bond theme song and perhaps some cheesy song by some has-been music group or singer. Oh wait, those are the later films. This CD was nothing like I thought it would be. I thought it would be cheesy as well. It is great. It's all instrumental, very jazzy and funky at the same time. The organ is the best part, it really makes the music stand out. It's right out front and gives each song a lot of character. On one song they have a sax playing but most of the time its just the organ and the guitar. The guitar plays the prerequisite funky riffs and also some mellow jazzy stuff.
I love every song on this CD. I was trying to think of which is my favorite and was having a hard time. The songs are very different from each other and yet when you listen to it sometimes it feels like one long groove. If I had to pick a favorite or two, I would say it's their take on the James Bond theme, "Bond II;" it is pretty outstanding. Very original and yet you can pick out the theme song right away. I also like "III Blind Mice;" it is quite the jazzy version of that real simple song we all know but they do it up pretty good.
Similar to the summer feel the Son Volt CD has, this CD also feels like summer to me. Where the Son Volt CD was like a lazy summer day driving out in the middle of a country road, this CD is like sitting on the porch outside at about 9 o'clock on a hot summer night in the city, having a cocktail, and just hanging with your friends. It is a great CD to have on as background music, yet it is so much better than that. I am sure Ross heard a song from this CD on KBEM or KFAI and just had to have it, like so many other CDs in the collection. As I dig out and find these unexpected treasures, it makes me appreciate Ross's far ranging tastes in music that are now being passed on to me. I won't ever like everything (read Jethro Tull's Minstrel in the Gallery) but I have come to appreciate and really listen to music so much more than I ever used to. I am keeping this CD. Anyone want to come over for a cocktail and a listen on a hot summer night?
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Grant Green was a very big jazz guitarist in the 60's and 70's. Never knew his kid followed in the old man's footsteps. Might have to pick up this CD. Their sound definitely reminds me of Jimmy Smith, another jazz organ guy. If you liked this, I'm positive Ross had Jimmy Smith. When I was at your kitchen party I saw one of Jimmy Smith's CDs between Ross' Best of The Osmonds and The Archies' Christmas Album.
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