Description
Bennie Maupinholds the distinction of being the only musician to play on both Miles DavissBitches Brewand Herbie HancocksHead Hunters the two most historically significant albums of jazzs late 60s/early 70s foray into rock and funk. This alone makes him a key figure in the evolution of fusion. But Maupins status as a versatile woodwind player (commandeering tenor and soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, and flute) was seeded well prior, having served as a sideman in groups led by Marion Brown,Horace Silver,Lee Morgan, and others within the hard-bop/post-bop circuit. Neither was his adaptability confined to varied instrumentation. As a soloist Maupin could be as lyrical, robust or harmonically adventurous as the context demanded qualities that made him ideal for the intrepid explorations of Daviss electric period (appearing onBig Fun,On the Corner, andJack Johnson) and Hancocks experimental Mwandishi ensemble. As a composer, he might as readily contribute an ethereal slowburn beauty like Neophilia to Morgans quintet, as he could the main riffs to HancocksHead Hunters smash, Chameleon the track that propelled the entire jazz-funk subgenre forward.
Slow Traffic to the Right, sees him marrying this approach (as represented by the lovely Eternal Flame and Lament) to a more conventionally commercial sound. In lesser hands this might prove problematic. However Maupins vision and execution in tandem with frequent collaborators like bassist Paul Jackson, trumpeterEddie Henderson, and producer Patrick Gleeson, amongst others never feels imbalanced. Introduced by a striking melodic progression before giving way to a punchy motif in the Chameleon mode, It Remains To Be Seen catches fire via solos from Maupin on saxophone and a dazzling Patrice Rushen on keyboards. When the piece pauses from its danceable handclap groove into contemplation, its revealed through Maupins hymnlike vocal that the title isnt skeptical at all, but hopeful: Peace for the world will be seen/ Because one man had a dream. You Know the Deal is less conceptually ambitious but musically even tighter a downtempo number bursting with funky intricacies that would make it ripe for sampling by hip-hop producers likeMadliband Mr. Attic decades down the line.
Slow Traffics terrific Quasar reboot maximizes the compositions melodic strength. The ultimate team-player on his own recording date, Maupin doesnt even take a proper solo. Instead he keeps his flute and saxophone couched comfortably within the productions lush orchestration as it builds to a fervent peak a moment of beauty and exhilaration exemplary of Bennie Maupins selfless gifts. via U Discover Music
Label:Mercury, Verve Records
Series:Verve By Request
Format:Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Stereo, 180g
Reissued: 2025 / Original Release: 1977
Genre:Jazz
Style:Fusion, Jazz-Funk
File under: Soul-Jazz / Jazz-Funk
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