LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

Brown Sugar marked the fourth of five albumsthat organ player Freddie Roach recorded as abandleader for Blue Note in the early 1960’s.Brown Sugar was released at a time when “souljazz” was really starting to cook. Joined by tenorsax giant Joe Henderson, guitarist Eddie Wright,and drummer Clarence Johnston. Where hiscontemporaries played hard-driving, bluesy souljazz,Roach’s approach was more textured andshaded. He was capable of blistering leads, but hewas more interested in dynamics, harmonics andtonal color. Although he made only a couple moreLPs after Brown Sugar, over the next threedecades Roach emerged as a cult figure of sorts,appealing to soul-jazz fans who becameintroduced to the genre through acid jazz. Firstdomestic CD release!T R A C K L I S T I N G :1. Brown Sugar 2. The Right Time 3. Have You Ever Had The Blues 4.The Midnight Sun Will Never Set 5. Next Time You See Me 6. AllNight Long.