Ronnie Foster - On the Avenue (1974) [2013 BNLA Series 24-bit Remaster] mp3

Though not as relentlessly funky as his classic Blue Note debut Two Headed Freap, On the Avenue remains the most accomplished record of Ronnie Foster's career, proving commercial aspirations and accoutrements can indeed co-exist alongside traditional jazz sensibilities. Produced by George Benson and featuring the great Phil Upchurch on guitar and Marvin Chapell on drums, On the Avenue favors more mellow, nuanced grooves over the blistering funk of previous Foster outings. The velvety opener "Serenade to a Rock" and the title cut both draw heavily on Stevie Wonder's classic mid-'70s recordings, with a lithe cover of the Innervisions track "Golden Lady" further underlining the influence. Foster also expands his palette to include Afro-Cuban sounds ("Big Farm Boy Goes to a Latin City") and even assumes vocal duties for the first time on LP with "To See a Smile." Best of all is his rendition of Freddie Hubbard's "First Light"; arguably Foster's purest and most potent performance to date.

Tracks:

01. Serenade to a Rock (Foster) - 6:15
02. On the Avenue (Foster) - 6:15
03. What Happened to the Sunshine (Foster) - 5:02
04. Golden Lady (Wonder) - 4:46
05. To See a Smile (Foster) - 4:09
06. Big Farm Boy Goes to a Latin City (Foster) - 3:39
07. First Light (Hubbard) - 4:35

Personnel:

Ronnie Foster - organ, clavinet, Moog synthesizer, vocals
John E. Gatchell, Dean Robert Pratt - trumpet, flugelhorn
Gerald Ray Chamberlain - trombone
Joel L. Kaye - baritone saxophone
Phil Upchurch - guitar, Fender bass
Marvin Chappell - drums
Ray Armando - percussion