Black Octopus

Paul Jackson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 17, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Pgi / Platform
• ASIN: B00004Y9VR
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,248 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Pt. 1: Many Directions

2. Pt. 2: Eight Ways of Love

3. Funk Times Three

4. Burning in the Heat (Of Your Love)

5. Tiptoe Thru the Ghetto

6. T-Bolt

7. A Little Love'll Help

8. Umi Bozu

9. Bow Tie Dress

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thinking mans funk!, December 27, 2000

By 

"dubka" (Cumbria, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black Octopus (Audio CD)

Having been unable to afford this album in its original, rare, japanese, vinyl format for a painful number of years, stumbling upon this reissue seemed like a dream come true. What can I say about Paul Jackson? This man is an incredible musician and composer (he co-wrote such classics as "Chameleon" and "Hang-up your hang-ups" along side Herbie Hancock). He is one of the few bass players who is capable of evoking an immediate emotional response from the listener. In other words, when Paul gets down, you sit up and listen! When first listening through "Black Octopus" Paul suddenly becomes much more than "Herbies bass player" and I believe this collection of songs helps to illuminate the many sides of this great musician which I was previously unaware of. "Many Directions" sees Paul reciting jazz poetry and playing upright bass (pretty avante garde for Paul), then in direct contrast the down right funk of "Eight ways of Love". This shows Paul throwing some Stevie Wonder-esque vocal acrobatics around and leaving the synth bass to Herbie Hancock. Not exactly what one would expect at this point but great fun all the same! I think "Funk times three" is what I expected the whole album to be like i.e. this track is most like the Headhunters. I've never been so pleased to be wrong! Next up is another unexpected delight, "Burning in the heat" a beautiful funk/disco ballad. Completing the album is the cool and surprisingly unfamiliar "Tiptoe thru the ghetto", I find it difficult to understand why we are all unaware of this and a couple of Pauls other songs which cry out "classic funk track". Anyway, better late than never. I should point out the other reasons why this album is great besides Pauls playing and writing. Namely, Herbie Hancock, Bennie Maupin, Alphonse Mouzon, Webster Lewis and Ray Obiedo. These guys are some of the greatest jazz/funk musicians ever. Need I say more? Funk hungry, young musicians such as myself will love this album, as will anyone who likes their funk laid down by the best in the business. This is real thinking mans funk. But don't take my word for it. In the words of Alphonse Mouzon, "hell, all the takes are funky!".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent, December 2, 2009

By 

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber Print DJ ... (Mahwah, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Black Octopus (Audio CD)

The previous reviewer has given terrific detail on Black Octopus and laid all you need to know on the table.

This is a pretty wicked jazz funk album with some avant-gaurd touches. It is well recorded and has fantastic playing and some great soul vocals.

This is not worth selling the farm for, but if you are rich or really want this album, you will not be disappointed in its excellent audio quality, fat bass lines and quality jazz work.

But this is not atypical of high end 70s jazz funk. On the in print retail market I would fully endorse it.

But wait for the reissue; don't morgage the house or spend baby Suzie's Harvard money for 2027.