Billy Wooten - Evening on the Canal (1995/2013)

A rare live set from vibes legend Billy Wooten – recorded sometime in the mid 90s, but with a funky feel that's like his best music from the 70s! The Vida Bole Ensemble backs Billy up – giving him a tight large group push that makes for plenty of great rhythms – both funky drums and Latin touches on percussion – the last of which are especially nice, and really do great things alongside the vibes! Billy's the lead man on solos throughout – although the album does feature some nice tenor from David Young, and both alto and flute from George Sparky Smith – players who really help deepen the sound of the record. Production is great – straightforward and simple – and the whole thing's got a classic feel that makes it a great addition to Wooten's too-small catalog! Titles include "Mi Rosa Mujer", "Shoo Bee Doo Bee", "Want You To Be My Love", "Sugar Man", "Don Diablo", "Mumba Caliente", and "Comingo De Amor".

Tracks:

01. Want You to Be My Love (7:57)
02. Sugar Man (7:49)
03. Comingo de Amor (4:43)
04. Mumba Caliente (5:14)
05. Vocalese Majik (6:52)
06. Mi Rosa Mujer (7:19)
07. Shoo Bee Doo Bee (5:36)
08. Don Diablo (3:20)

Personnel:

George "Sparky" Smith - alto saxophone, flute
Mike McFarland, Ivan Benson - Latin percussion
Larry Clark - percussion
Jonathon - wood bass
Miles Lloyd - piano
Clifford Ratliff, Carlos Negron, Mike Schofield - trumpet
James Pratt, Jim Hicks - trombone
David Young - tenor saxophone
Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson - alto saxophone
Dave Laskey - guitar
Rudy Finnell, Willie Ramos, Jerome Cheatham - bass
Billy Wooten - vibes