Description
Craft RecordingsandJazz Dispensary announce thefirst-evervinyl reissueofJohnnyLytles long-sought-after soul-jazz gem,People & Love.Full of soaring, funky jams and heady grooves, the latest release in Jazz Dispensarys acclaimedTop Shelfseriesshowcases the legendary vibraphonists talents as a songwriter, musician, and bandleader, as he guides his fellow musicians through five sublime tracks, including extended, soulful covers(People Make the World Go Round, Where Is the Love?) and groovy originals(Libra, Tawhid, Family). The 1973 session also boasts a stellar line-up of players, includingDaahoud Hadi (formerly Butch Cornell)on the electric piano and organ,Bob Cranshawon the electric bass, and harpistBetty Glamann.
Touted by the great bandleader Lionel Hampton as The Greatest Vibes Player in the World,Johnny Lytle(1932 1995) began his career as a drummer, playing with the likes of Ray Charles, Gene Ammons, and Jimmy Witherspoon before switching to the vibraphone in the mid-50s. By the end of the decade, he was leading his own group and caught the ears of producer/record executiveOrrin Keepnews, who promptly signed the dexterous musician. A consummate showman, whose fast-paced performances earned him the title of Fast Hands, Lytle built a significant following in the 60srecording for KeepnewsJazzland, Riverside, andMilestoneimprints, among others.
For 1973sPeople & Love(originally released on Milestone), Lytle found inspiration from two popular songs of the day:People Make the World Go Round(made famous a year earlier by Philadelphia soul stars, The Stylistics) and Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaways 1972 smash hit,Where Is the Love.In addition to delivering inspired renditions of the two tracks, Lytle also borrowed from the songs titles to name his own album.Keepnews, who producedPeople & Love, wrote in the albums original liner notes People and Love are also words that seem strongly descriptive of the kind of musicJohnnyLytle has created here.Johnnyhas always been a notably soulful musician, whose playing has a high emotional content. What made this particular album stand out in the vibraphonists prolific catalog, Keepnews added, was that Lytle was transitioning away from the hard-driving [and] rhythmic playing that he first became known for. There has been a new Lytle gradually emerging, and on this record that warmer and deeper attitude takes over, the producer concludes.
Available on vinyl for the first time since its original release 50 years ago, the downtempo-funk extravaganza People & Love is a crate-digger’s treasure chest, filled with soul-jazz grooves and mesmerizing vibraphone textures laid down by Johnny Lytle, who was touted as “the greatest vibes player in the world” by the big band legend Lionel Hampton. As with all titles in the album-centric Top Shelf serieswhich reissues the highest-quality, hand-picked rarities People & Lovefeatures(AAA) lacquers cut from the original tapesbyKevin GrayatCohearent Audioand ispressed on180-gram vinyl at RTI. Rounding out the package is atip-on jacket, replicating the albums original art. (via Jazz Dispensary)
Label: Milestone
Series: Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180 gram
Country: US
Released: Mar 2024 / Original Release: 1973
Genre: Jazz, Funk / Soul
Style: Soul-Jazz, Jazz-Funk, Space-Age, Downtempo
File under: Soul Jazz / Jazz-Funk
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