CURTIS MAYFIELD — Curtis (review)

CURTIS MAYFIELD — Curtis album cover Album · 1970 · RnB Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
Curtis' first solo album is a must and a perfect introduction to his 70s-era sound.

And what a way to start an album. On '(Don't Worry) If There's a Hell Below We're All Going to Go', a near 8 minute funk workout with his trademark falsetto climbing over horns, strings and a fuzzy bass line, we have Curtis calling for attention:

Sisters! Niggers! Whities! Jews! Crackers! Don't Worry. If there's hell below, We're all gonna go!

It's part of his trademark 'tell it how it is' approach to lyrics, and it's well-suited to this strident song. While 'Curtis' has an obvious focus on social-conscience songs (also seen on 'The Other Side of Town' and 'We People Who Are Darker than Blue') there is lyrical variety. On 'The Makings of You' and 'Give it Up' he's more concerned with relationships, while the classic 'Move on Up' is a much more positive song, one that never fails to lift my mood. It's the key piece on the record. Aside from being a great song, it has a wonderful four minute plus outro, where the groove is locked in and the strings, horns and guitar and percussion are layered over the rhythm tracks to great effect. It also includes a short but enjoyable sax solo, which is a welcome addition to the album.

While the songwriting slips somewhat on a couple of songs ( 'Wild and Free' and 'Miss Black America') and I personally find the ballad 'The Makings of You' a little treacly, there is another stand out track that deserves mention. 'We People Who Are Darker Than Blue' is a multipart song that begins quite gently, with longer brass notes and strings, almost legato, before everything breaks into an extended percussive bridge with some subtle wah from Curtis' guitar. Things change again when a flourish of harp brings the song back to its opening, with Mayfield telling us that 'tomorrow can be an even brighter day.'

If you are already a fan of Curtis Mayfield and don't have this, go and get it. If you like funk and soul then once again, this is an album for you. For me, this is a five star album, but I've rated it four - 'excellent addition to any jazz collection' because as a Jazz-related RNB album, it might not necessarily qualify as a 'masterpiece' in the other Jazz genres.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

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

Hummingbird and Four Flowers : Turntable and Harmonium Solo Live Jazz Related Improv/Composition
OTOMO YOSHIHIDE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Water Music Avant-Garde Jazz
IVO PERELMAN
Buy this album from MMA partners
The Lost Chord Jazz Related Improv/Composition
HENRY KAISER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Hackensack West Post-Fusion Contemporary
ANTHONY WILSON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Golem & Other Tales World Fusion
SAM REIDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

"Miles Between" // by Shawn Schlogel & Nancy Erickson Lamont
NANCY ERICKSON LAMONT
js· 4 hours ago
Mature Hybird Talking
FRANK GRATKOWSKI
js· 1 day ago
Perspective (Peace & Love)
ISAIAH COLLIER
js· 2 days ago
T-SQUARE 45th Anniversary Celebration Concert & Tour 2023 @Zepp Nagoya ?CLIMAX?
T-SQUARE
js· 2 days ago
Cravo E Canela (Cloves & Cinnamon)
LEE RITENOUR
js· 3 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