Johnny Lytle Trio: Blue Vibes/Happy Ground

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Milt Harris (org)
William “Peppy” Hinnant (d)
Albert Heath (d)
Johnny Lytle

Label:

Fresh Sounds

November/2012

Catalogue Number:

FSR CD 696

RecordDate:

16 June 1960; 23 March 23 1961

Many might only know Lytle from his rare groove track ‘The Village Caller’ which, for a time, was a staple of any acid jazz DJ set. As to the role played by all three participants Lyle grabbed all available solo space throughout these 15 selections, except for a brief break given over to Milt Harris on ‘Happy Ground’, who otherwise supplied a wall of sustained chocking chords and effects typical of that era when the sound of a blazing Hammond dominated. Finally, be it the self explanatory opener ‘Blue Vibes’ or standards including ‘Canadian Sunset’ and ‘It's All Right With Me’, things move along at the required pace, as alternating drummers fill in all the necessary gaps. Though by no means a threat to either Milt Jackson (though he offers his take on Bags' ‘Movin’ Nicely') or Gary Burton, former Ray Charles drummer Lytle eschews any complexities preferring instead to offer clean cut straight ahead logical improvisations. Once a popular attraction at numerous leading lounge bars such as Baby Grand (Delaware) and Count Basie's (New York), in retrospect, it seems obvious that this threesome would enhance the environment wherever good food and drink and company were enjoyed nightly.

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