LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Houston Person's immersion in the subculture of organ-tenor saxophone groups made him an invisible man to jazz critics and other tastemakers who disdain that genre. Nonetheless, for more than four decades, fellow musicians and knowledgeable listeners have loved Person for his ability to cut to the musical and emotional essentials. His big sound and uncomplicated improvisations come from his heart and from the blues soul of the music. In this 1968 recording, Person sails with five navigators of the modern mainstream. They explore the jazz verities of swing and melodic statements that tell stories people understand in their hearts. With his own drummer, Frankie Jones, Person welcomes aboard Curtis Fuller, Pepper Adams, Bob Cranshaw, and Cedar Walton. Walton's arrangements are tailored for Person's directness and sincerity. They include Walton's "Holy Land," which has since become a jazz standard.
Track listing:Blue Odyssey, Holy Land; I Love You, Yes I Do; Funky London, Please Send Me Someone to Love, Starrburst