Two-fer CD reissue combines two 1968 sessions, both featuring
Stitt and
Patterson, that were recorded on consecutive days (September 23-24, 1968), although one was issued under
Patterson's name and the other under
Stitt's. The first six songs were issued as the
Patterson LP Funk You!, on which
Patterson leads a date that also has
Sonny Stitt and
Charles McPherson on saxes and
Pat Martino on guitar. The other players get about as much space as
Patterson, and as 1960s jazz with organ goes, this is pretty straight-ahead and boppish, rather than soul-jazz (as so much organ jazz from that decade was). For the bop factor, listen especially to the cover of
Sonny Rollins' "Airegin," on which
Martino in particular shines.
Patterson does get in a more soulful mood on his composition "Little Angie," which has an elegiac mood somewhat similar to occasional slow instrumentals cut by
Booker T. & the MG's during that period. The other eight songs were issued as the
Stitt LP Soul Electricity!, an album that got its name because, for this session,
Stitt plugged his alto and tenor saxophones into a Varitone attachment. What came out, though, was not fusion by any means, but a pretty straight-ahead session that found
Stitt his usual competent self. The program is actually on the conservative side, leaning toward standards.
Stitt's quartet is rounded out by
Don Patterson on organ,
Billy Butler on guitar, and Billy James on drums. This isn't the most logical package --
Stitt's half is more straight-ahead in flavor and, more importantly, neither album fits too well into the soul-jazz or acid jazz category -- but for fans of either artist, the material is worth hearing. ~ Richie Unterberger