Blues and Organ in Easy Stride
Crawford sounds at his best when he has strong melodies to wrap his tone around, and when he can dig into the blues.
From the first note, this is warm, unhurried soul jazz—Crawford's alto sax settling into grooves where the organ breathes underneath like a second voice. Jimmy McGriff's B-3 doesn't chase; it anchors, fills space, lets Crawford's melodic gift do the work. These are blues-based tunes with breathing room, the kind of session where nobody rushes. The quartet moves with the ease of musicians who know what they want: strong melodies, a pocket you can sink into, and space for both players to stretch without stepping on each other.
This is Crawford in his element—not experimenting, not reaching. He's a saxophonist who thrives on tune quality and the blues, and McGriff knows how to play the role of partner rather than bandleader. Scott Yanow of AllMusic captured it plainly: an excellent soul jazz effort. The material sits comfortably in Crawford's wheelhouse, and he spends the session doing what he does best, which is enough. By this point in his career, Crawford had long since proven himself; this album doesn't reinvent anything, but it doesn't need to.
If you come to this expecting pyrotechnics or conceptual ambition, you'll miss the point. This is a working session between two pros who understand the value of restraint and the power of a good blues line. The organ and sax trade off easily, neither one overshadowing the other. It's the sound of musicians who still had plenty to offer and knew exactly how to deliver it.
Who's playing
Where next?
More by Hank Crawford
All 27 albums →
The musicians on this record
Their own records, close in time
