LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

The novelty of electric keyboard instruments and the soul phenomenon in jazz converged in Soul Cycle. Cedar Walton recruited the veteran tenor saxophonist and flutist James Moody and the excellent but little-known guitarist Rudy Stevenson to share lead voice duties. As his rhythm section companions he chose Reggie Workman, a bassist of great power and harmonic ability, and Albert Heath, one of the most versatile and tasteful of drummers. On both the Fender-Rhodes and acoustic pianos, Walton exhibits the imagination in solo and resourcefulness in accompaniment that have kept him in demand in a career of nearly four decades. While soul music gets its due, Walton provides straight-ahead trio versions of the standard “I Should Care” and Clare Fischer’s latter-day classic, “Pensativa.” The original album notes contain Walton’s interesting thoughts about the challenge of reaching wide audiences.
Track listing:Sundown Express, Quiet Dawn, Pensativa, My Cherie Amour, Easy Walker, I Should Care