In the early '70s, Oakland, California-based pianist
Gene Russell
launched his own
Black Jazz Records
label to help promote Black musicians with a focus on politically and socially minded jazz, soul, and funk sounds.
Russell
had scored a hit several years prior with his ebullient trio album
Up and Away
, playing jazz versions of contemporary pop tunes. He built upon this aesthetic with
, releasing a handful of funky and expansive albums that gained a cult following. Among his own releases for the label was 1973's
Talk to My Lady
. An earthy soul-jazz date, it showcased
on piano and organ alongside his adept small group featuring bassist
Henry Franklin
, drummer
Ndugu
, guitarist
Calvin Keys
, and conga player
Charles Weaver
. The set opens with several
originals, including the glowing spiritual jazz title track and the acoustic funk groover "Get Down." Then we get a slow-jam reading of the
Billy Paul
hit "Me and Mrs. Jones" and a bright, Latin-tinged take on
Stevie Wonder
's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life." Equally mood-setting vibes pop up throughout the album as
sinks softly into the afterglow ballad "For Heaven's Sake" and masterfully builds harmonic tension on the wickedly slow "Blues Suite." There's also a rambling and expansive rendition of "My Favorite Things" that takes inspiration from the classic 1961
John Coltrane
version and a wry album-ending version of "If You Could See Me Now" featuring
's spoken lover-man take on the lyrics. As with many of the
Black Jazz
releases,
is a perfect balance between romantic dinner-club ambiance and hip counterculture attitude. ~ Matt Collar