The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 136

TT p. Ray Charles Wails Again--but in Pops From Rhythm and Blues io fhe Swank Club Circuit Garrigues the charm of Charles' peculiarly tremulous voice. Charles himself sings as though he believed every note which his throat forms. Though the Jazz fan may grind his teeth to hear Charles backed by strings there are many times when these fail to intrude and one hears the wonderfully clear, sparse, precise Charles piano or the fine jazz tenor of David "Fathead" Newman. In brief, this is an album which does precisely what it sets out to do: to introduce a remarkable personality in a new guise to a new audience.

But it may also serve to introduce the new audience to some excellent jazz, embedded in the schmaltz. So all is by no means lost. By H. DEDICATED TO YOU Ray Charles, Strings, Voices and Jazs Ornbo (ABC-Paramount 355): This is the second albumin ABC-Para-mounl's campaign to turn the world's greatest rhythm-and-blues singer into a successful purveyor of popular songs (a la Nat While one may regret Charles' decision to tuin from his natural metier into alien territory, one must admit that he seems to be making this territory his own. In terms of backing and arrangement (by Marty Paich) this album is much more effective much more musically sophisticated than was his earlier ABC-Paramount album.

Paich writes and conducts with a sure hand; he knows precisely how to bring out RAY CHARLES Jozzmon in a new guUe Bestof The New Combos? Graduates of a Berkeley Den EASTERN LIC.nTS Lenny MeBrowne and the Four Souls (Riverside 346): This is the group which won such decided critical acclaim when it appeared at Berkeley's Stew Den but which San Francisco club owners wouldn't book be-cause it "wasn't well enoi'h As a result of this attitude, Lenny took the Four Souls to New York where the group has been doing right well. The present album confirms the opinion of this reviewer, expressed at that time, that this is the most talented new straight jazz combo to appear on the scene in years. (It was this reviewer's nominee for "New Star Small Combo in Down Beat's critic's poll last year.) There is a warmth, a vividness of musical imagination, a basic "spatial" sense In its performances which has been all too rare in the last year or so. If MeBrowne can continue to hold the group together, it should go far. It is notable that three of the most brilliant performers Terry Trotter, piano; Daniel Jackson, tenor, and Donald Sleet, trumpet have only recently turned 21.

Lennie himself is 28 and Jimmy Bond, the bassist, is also in his twenties. It is also, happily, one of the few fully integrated groups now playing in jazz a fact which may serve as an example to check the growing Crow Jimism which many white must cians have encountered in recent years. C.II.G. A Blues Anthology To Beat All Others TIIlS IS THE BLUES, Vol. 1 (Pacific Jazz 13): This is another of the splendid anthology albums which World Pacific (the parent label of Pacific Jazz) seems to do better than almost anybody else.

Among the established jazzmen, in various combinations on the various tracks, are Harold Land, Gerald Wilson, Jim Hall, Curtis Hamp Hawes, Teddy Edwards, Lero Vinnegar, Herbie Lewis, Ron Jefferson and Les McCann. But the album also intro mmm --i- mmWM ii -in im JttHiVUJU 3)Via FrancUco GR 4-1246 trT 960 BUSH Bev's at Her Best When She Scats for a Crowd duces several talented players who, to me at least, are unknown and would seem to have come over from the rhythm-and-blues ranks. Included are Paul Bryant, an organist who can almost make an organ sound good in jazz, a tenor saxman named Curtis Amy who is brilliant and moving, and a vibes player named Bobby Hutcherson who does much with that abused instrument. The piano of Les McCann is outstanding on all the tracks where he appears. to have made this one of the good albums of the year.

BIMBO PRESENTS A A 'S CONTINENTAL CUISINE and SPECIAL DISHES FOR LENT bimbo's kl -GLUJMMUfc At Li It's thrifty to have your Examiner home-delivered! Call SU. 1-2424 today. I jjIMMY can be heard every night on Ikhip-fm t7 GEORGE SHEARING QUiHTET AT THE BLACKHAWIC If OPENING TUESDAY. MARCH 21 Umm Song ttylitt Anita O'Dey BEV KELLY IN PERSON With the Pony Poin-dexter Quartet at the Coffee Galley (Riverside RLP 345): Though Bev sings better here than on her first album, this one still fails to catch the relaxed charm of her performances with Pony at the Coffee Gallery. One suspects that, here, she was singing for Riverside's man instead of having fun with Pony's alto and scatting for the benefit of the crowd.

As a result, her phrasing is over-stylized and her tone sometimes uncertain and tremulous. More Poindexter, both as soloist and leader, would have done much to rescue Bev from such effects and HIGHLIGHT SHOCKED 11V Till: II I (.11 COST of you lelitve 'ITiat ostentatious display at time of death is not for yo That funerals should not be a luxury THEM YOIT MIGIIT I.IKK TO KNOW ABOUT TIIK DAY AREA FUNERAL SOCIETY Writei 1414 A Univerwly Are, Berktlry 2. Or phont Til 3-6784, Ert. S6 10-2. A non-profit association established in 1955 as a public education service, and to betp families arrange sensible funerals of dignified simplicity.

Sponsored by respected mta- mumty leaders. KB Mfi HAS REOPENED ON THE LEVEE 87 EMIARCADERO I ex 7-2451 mm TURK MURPHY'S" im BAND at fHIHCUAKE McCOON'S (reodmy IChw Sun. ft Mm.) Ntt mpperlm JIMMY WITHERSPOON and Hm BEN WEBSTER QUARTET Jazz Workshop 473 Broodwoy DO. 2-9244 Cow Door Ckarg MattM Today 4-7 10an3flranriuraxamtarr Sun.sy.rvb.2o. mi.