Johnny Almond Music Machine "Hollywood Blues" 1970

2nd (and last) album by British multi-instrumentalist / composer Johnny Almond recorded under the Johnny Almond Music Machine moniker...
...Although recorded only a few months following the debut “Patent Pending”, it is a completely different affair, as the album was recorded in the US and all the musicians except Almond come from the US West Coast. The opportunity to record this album arrived, when Almond visited the US to perform at the 1969 edition of the Newport Jazz Festival with John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Legendary producer Mike Vernon came up with the idea to record an album with Almond and some local musicians. For the recording session a rhythm section was assembled, which included organist Charles Kynard, legendary guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Ray Neapolitan and drummers Earl Palmer / Joe Harris. On the front line Almond was paired with one of three saxophone players: Hadley Caliman, Curtis Amy and Vi Redd. He plays several instruments (as usual) – tenor and alto saxophone, flutes, organ and vibraphone. Almond wrote most of the music on the album, with just a couple of standards used. The result is a delightful, funky, soulful session with excellent music and some remarkable solos. Almond’s playing bears a distinctive European approach, which when consolidated with the American natural bluesy sound fits just perfectly. The album is much more jazzy that the debut and perhaps less adventurous, but nevertheless and excellent document of the fine music that was happening at the time and cross-pollination of musical ideas. Most warmly recommended! - Jazzis
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Vi Redd / Bass [Fender] – Ray Neapolitan / Drums – Earl Palmer, Joe Harris / Guitar – Joe Pass / Organ – Charles Kynard / Saxophone – Johnny Almond / Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Curtis Amy / Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Hadley Caliman / Vibraphone – Johnny Almond

traxfromwax:
1 It's The Water 2 Funkville U.S.A. 3 Agadir Sunset 4 Blues For Helen 5 Hot Rod 6 Slipping Easy 7 Kwei Ying Fu 8 Perido
Ripped from Vinyl by RYP with Audacity 3.2.3 : Thorens TD 318/Audio-Technica 95E - Yamaha A-S301 - Q Acoustics 3020i / Yamaha NS-SW050

This music is dedicated to the tradition of Johnny Diego's Rock 'n' Roll Free Sunday!