BOBBI HUMPHREY — Blacks and Blues (review)

BOBBI HUMPHREY — Blacks and Blues album cover Album · 1974 · Funk Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
darkprinceofjazz
If ever there was an album for driving around with the top down on a hot summer night, Blacks and Blues is it. I can see no flaws in the music what so ever, if you take it for what it is, a Contemporary jazz funk album, The music just feels urban, it feels like a party in the heart NYC.

It can not be overlooked the contribution of the Brothers Mizell, Larry and Fonce, with all the compositions and arrangements from the pair, Bobbi Humphrey has a nice voice on flute, obviously this album is a studio creation, with many session players, but unlike The Donald Byrd Mizell brothers produced albums like Black Byrd, Bobbi gets quite a bit of solo space, and the album feels more like hers than some of those other albums did, she really stretches out in the R&B; setting, this music is not really jazz, and that's ok, it's roots are still in the Blues, and any music that is that, is OK by me, The synth work is quite good, and never gets tasteless as some funk can get, but it's not so safe that I would want to fall asleep, Bobbi also sings 2 ballads "Just a Love Child" and "Baby's Gone", her first on record, you would never confuse her for Aretha Franklin, that for sure, but her light voice is a nice rest from the harder groovers.

"Harlem River Drive" and "Chicago Damn" are the ringers on Blacks and Blues, they are easily, "stone funk classics", with fantastic stock back ground singing by the Mizell brothers. The overall mood of the album is just so positive and absorbing, I can't find anything wrong with it.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
js wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Nice review, just happens I'm listening to the Blakbyrds right now, ha.

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin : Brasil Latin Jazz
LEE RITENOUR
Buy this album from MMA partners
From The North - Gogo Penguin Live In Manchester Nu Jazz
GOGO PENGUIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anthony Braxton Saxophone Quartet : Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022 Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Sean Khan Presents The Modern Folk & Jazz Ensemble Nu Jazz
SEAN KHAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Yass Big Band : imMATHEMATICS Eclectic Fusion
TYMAŃSKI YASS ENSEMBLE / YASS BIG BAND
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Fall
SUNNY KIM
js· 12 hours ago
Twilight
RANDY SCOTT
js· 1 day ago
Trifecta - Beck and Call - official video (taken from The New Normal)
TRIFECTA
js· 2 days ago
Phoenix
GRÉGORY PRIVAT
js· 2 days ago
Karrin Allyson EPK for NEW Album "A Kiss For Brazil" Available May 17, 2024 ©Origin Records
KARRIN ALLYSON
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed