Buddy Terry - Electric Soul!

Buddy Terry - Electric Soul! - Prestige PR 7525 - Prestige Original Pressing, Mono, Blue Trident Label

Buddy Terry - Tenor Sax & Varitone
Jimmy Owens - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
Harold Mabern jr - Electric Piano
Ron Carter - Bass
Freddie Waits - Drums

Recorded - [not listed on sleeve, but according to major Prestige discographies - February 23, 1967, Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ]

Produced by Cal Lampley
Recording: Rudy Van Gelder
Cover Design/Photo - Don Schlitten

Released - July 29, 1967

Back again with another monster Prestige Soul Jazz rarity/gem - Buddy Terry's debut side Electric Soul! This lost side doesn't have quite the collector-cratedigger cachet of Terry's follow up Natural Soul which many of you have been enjoying lately, but I feel this side is the superior effort. Terry feels like more of a leader here. His originals are more engaging, and the sidemen play well together. Harold Mabern has some nice stylings on the electric piano, almost proto-fusion like. Jimmy Owens contributes some nice licks on the trumpet/flugehorn. Finally, the legendary Ron Carter on loan from Miles at the time, holds everything up with his bass.

Of course, the varitone/electric saxophone is a bit of divisive issue in jazz. I happen to love it, but jazz purists/ square hard boppers hate it.... This side is most often compared to Eddie Harris' well known and very commercially successful 'The Electrifying Eddie Harris'. However, Electric Soul was cut in February 67, several months before Electrifying in April 67. So, Terry was a bit of pioneer with the varitone in jazz/fusion, but this interesting fact has been lost to history. Another bargain acquisition for 5$, however, this time excellent fidelity off the original and beautiful condition Prestige mono vinyl.

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