The groove is loose and deep on these studio sessions recorded as backing music for the original Bill Cosby Show sitcom in 1969. Despite the title,
Bill Cosby appears on only one track here, the vocal version of "Hikky-Burr," where he improvised his entire part.
Quincy Jones directed these sessions with bassist
Ray Brown acting as bandleader on all but one cut (the
Cosby selection). Other players came from a revolving cast that included
Joe Sample on Fender Rhodes; pianists
Les McCann,
Clare Fischer, and
Monty Alexander; drummers
Paul Humphries and
John Guerin; bassist
Carol Kaye; guitarist
Arthur Adams; vibists
Milt Jackson and
Victor Feldman; saxophonists
Eddie Harris,
Ernie Watts, and
Tom Scott; and assorted others.
Jimmy Smith makes a brief impromptu appearance playing an organ solo as well. These are, true to title, jam sessions; the feel is everything, and whether it's funky ("Groovy Gravy," "Oh Happy Day,") bluesy hard bop ("Toe Jam"), or down-and-dirty soul-jazz ("Hikky-Burr," "Jive Den"), the intention is the same: to grease up the proceedings for maximum groove quotient. These are not terribly adventurous sessions, and the transferred sound isn't perfect either, since these were rehearsals and never intended for release. But then, they are what they are, relaxed yet lively, full of delight and surprise. ~ Thom Jurek