‘Blue Mode’ is Reuben Wilson’s third album for Blue Note and is amongst the strongest in his discography. The quartet stars guitarist Melvin Sparks on this 1969 session. ‘Bambu’ written by Sparks is a classic Hammond tune – funky, punchy and powerful. Eddie Floyd’s ‘Knock On Wood’ is given the B3 treatment and settles into a fine Soul Jazz groove. There is a grits n gravy feel to ‘Bus Ride’, whereas ‘Orange Peel’ is just downright funky. The Funk returns in Wilson’s take on Edwin Starr’s ‘Twenty-Five Miles’, whose greasy Hammond is ably supported by a tenor sax solo from John Manning and Sparks’ inspired guitar. The title cut concludes a master set and takes matters home in the bluesy Funk groove that epitomised the Blue Note/ Prestige late 60’s gut bucket organ style. A must.
Track listings:
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01 Bambu by Reuben Wilson
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02 Knock on Wood by Reuben Wilson
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03 Bus Ride by Reuben Wilson
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04 Orange Peel by Reuben Wilson
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05 Twenty-Five Miles by Reuben Wilson
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06 Blue Mode by Reuben Wilson
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