Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Although best known for the funk he provided as James Brown's co-writer and musical director for a spell during one of the Godfather of Soul's most creative periods, saxist Pee Wee Ellis is a jazzman at heart. Perhaps that's why Van Morrison tapped him as his go-to reed guy for so many years in the early '80s when Morrison's muse led him in that direction. Here Ellis uses a two-disc format (both could have fit on a single) to explore his funk and jazz leanings, with an emphasis on the latter. The all-instrumental album is appropriately subtitled "From Jazz to Funk and Back" and opens with five tunes that display Ellis' R&B side, leading a tight four-piece ensemble through the paces. The playing is tough, uncompromising, and filled with substantial jazzy improvisation while keeping the backbeat rugged, especially on a lean but sizzling ten-minute take of Cannonball Adderley's "Sticks." This combination has been done before, particularly by the Crusaders, although Ellis' muscular lines add more heft to the approach. The group whips through a rather obscure, old Brown-Ellis composition, "Gittin' a Little Hipper," where the tone shifts to jazz yet returns to funk, all within three minutes, similar to the original. The closing ballad on the first half is a sweet, slinky, smoky version of "At Last," a jazz/soul interpretation of the Etta James signature tune that sets up disc two's predominantly straight-ahead style. Here Ellis displays his sax chops admirably during a short (just over 30 minutes) six-song program that runs from standards such as "You've Changed" through to Eddie Harris' classic "Freedom Jazz Dance." Only the drummer remains from the funk disc and the backing band is slimmed down to a trio. "Sticks" gets another, much shorter, but no less intense workout with an eight-minute Sonny Rollins' "Sunnymoon for Two" and Ellis' upbeat, bump and shake "Now Go On" both riding their grooves. "Freedom Jazz Dance" nimbly combines both styles into one fiery performance to close out this impressive set and prove that Ellis is equally adept at either jazz or funk, but perhaps best when he joins the two.
© Hal Horowitz /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12,49€/month
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - (Payne), Composer - Ellis, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Brown, Composer - Ellis, Composer - Hobgood, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Ellis, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Adderley, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Ellis, Composer - Schneider, Composer - Rusky, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Gordon, Composer - Warren, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
DISC 2
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Carey, Composer - Fischer, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Adderley, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Ellis, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Rollins, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Ellis, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Pee Wee Ellis, Performer - Harris, Composer
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Albumbeschreibung
Although best known for the funk he provided as James Brown's co-writer and musical director for a spell during one of the Godfather of Soul's most creative periods, saxist Pee Wee Ellis is a jazzman at heart. Perhaps that's why Van Morrison tapped him as his go-to reed guy for so many years in the early '80s when Morrison's muse led him in that direction. Here Ellis uses a two-disc format (both could have fit on a single) to explore his funk and jazz leanings, with an emphasis on the latter. The all-instrumental album is appropriately subtitled "From Jazz to Funk and Back" and opens with five tunes that display Ellis' R&B side, leading a tight four-piece ensemble through the paces. The playing is tough, uncompromising, and filled with substantial jazzy improvisation while keeping the backbeat rugged, especially on a lean but sizzling ten-minute take of Cannonball Adderley's "Sticks." This combination has been done before, particularly by the Crusaders, although Ellis' muscular lines add more heft to the approach. The group whips through a rather obscure, old Brown-Ellis composition, "Gittin' a Little Hipper," where the tone shifts to jazz yet returns to funk, all within three minutes, similar to the original. The closing ballad on the first half is a sweet, slinky, smoky version of "At Last," a jazz/soul interpretation of the Etta James signature tune that sets up disc two's predominantly straight-ahead style. Here Ellis displays his sax chops admirably during a short (just over 30 minutes) six-song program that runs from standards such as "You've Changed" through to Eddie Harris' classic "Freedom Jazz Dance." Only the drummer remains from the funk disc and the backing band is slimmed down to a trio. "Sticks" gets another, much shorter, but no less intense workout with an eight-minute Sonny Rollins' "Sunnymoon for Two" and Ellis' upbeat, bump and shake "Now Go On" both riding their grooves. "Freedom Jazz Dance" nimbly combines both styles into one fiery performance to close out this impressive set and prove that Ellis is equally adept at either jazz or funk, but perhaps best when he joins the two.
© Hal Horowitz /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 01:13:37
- Main artists: Pee Wee Ellis
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: M. i. G. - music
- Genre: Jazz
2011 M. i. G. - music 2011 M. i. G. - music
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.