Customer Reviews

Gettin Down to It

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The title of this Verve-King reissue suggests the expected funk and fire of James Brown during his 1967-73 period of ascendence, indeed the title is shouted during "Cold Sweat", his only (recognizable) vocal on a very familiar JB classic, but the song titles suggest a much quieter, introspective side, and quieter it is: with the Dee Felice Trio. [A mellow, jazz-inflected back-up gig with Brown on "Playboy After Dark" comes to mind].
Last year Verve gave us "Soul On Top" - ofcourse Jazz and Soul, but in a "Big Band" setting. Here...a small band. And it works.
The highlight is the opener - "Sunny" - with JB harmonizing up a storm with Marva Whitney. This is his only released version (apparently issued on CD only one time before on an Australian collection). The intro. is slow, voices in a whisper; then into the verse with a passion. No screams here...just Soul in a different light. [Not long after this issue, it appears Brown introduced the song as a set-list piece. It's been written that it remains an unissued track from the "Love, Power, Peace" set from '71].
"That's Life" is very subdued compared to the version heard on a couple of 1968 TV Specials; although the two released Apollo versions were more in the "Gettin' Down..." vein. Some nice improvizations on this one. Nothing to return to very often but well worth hearing.
"All The Way" is tremendous. This is perhaps his most *controlled* vocal...ever. On The Louis Bellson album mentioned above there are occasional uncomfortable sudden shifts in the decibel level and the track as a whole suffers. On this cut a great singer gets a chance to stretch and invites the initiated to relax and enjoy the change of pace.
The mix is fine, however, I would have preferred a bit more echo on most of the numbers; also a slower tempo in a lower key, here and there.
This is an important release. It also serves as a reminder to the historians collectors that there's still plenty of never-on-CD JB in the files, including some titles that a Jazz-Blues label like Verve might not touch, namely "Live At The Garden", an incredible live set at a New Jersey venue. Let's hope this notable set begets a few items not exactly similiar in content but in...Soul!!!

Better known for a personal assembly of different black music styles in what was to be called `funky' music, James Brown, also known as `Mr Dynamite' or the Godfather of Soul has two diamonds in his discography that have remained mostly unnoticed, despite the stunning performances there recorded.

The first time I heard of them was when I caught one of my jazz teachers singing a fragment of "Sunny". Seeing my astonished face -I had always thought of it as a soul hit-, he explained me he hat been listening to a recording where James Brown sang jazz classics with the accompaniment of a jazz trio. He didn't tell me anymore, just the impression that hearing Mr Dynamite squeezing his voice in a funky fashion in the middle of a jazz standard produced to him. No title, no more clues... Since then, I've spent four years of my life looking for it -well, maybe it's saying too much. Anytime I entered a record shop I asked unsuccessfully for it. My internet researches were unlucky too. Finally this year I had news about the reedition of "Gettin' Down To It" (1969) and I went for it. But, what a surprise I had when it came across that this wasn't Mr. Brown's only jazz incursion. One year later, in 1970, the Godfather of Soul hadn't had enough jazz and hired a big band to go further in "Soul On Top".

The first thing that draws your attention into the music is how comfortable Brown seems to be in an environment that, anyway is not that strange to him. Used to repetitive rhythms, he moves softly but also firmly along the swinging scales and notes of jazz. Anyway, he can't help rowing to his port, so that some jazz standards become funky exhibitions, especially those supported by the big band. Then, Mr Dynamite's throat, playful in the slow tempos, climb higher and higher, in a desperate need for generating faster frequencies. That shouldn't be the goal. Mr Brown is capable of doing better. He's got the technique, a gifted voice and an enormous musical talent that allows him to explore softer registers. Shouting is not expressing.

However, on the other hand, the experience of dragging a jazz trio into funky grooves is a kind of illumination. James Brown shows able to keep the powerful performances of his funky combos with just a piano, a bass and the drums. Though stripped, the Godfather of Soul sounds powerful, and even richer in musical shades. Just an experience to take into account.

Recorded between December 1968 to March 1969. By the time this album was released (Around May of 1969) James had a #1 Billboard Hit Single with "Give It Up Or Turnit A Loose", and a Billboard Top 10 Hit Single with "I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing" This album came as a major surprise especially with a title "Gettin' Down To It"...VERY MISLEADING! Even with the Dee Felice Trio backing James Brown it just didn't work. The bulk of songs were standards, but we find James trying to turn them into lightweight funk workouts which again...It just don't work!. A few songs sounds like they were done on-The-Spot without ANY rehearsal what-so-ever! This is not one of James Brown's shining moments (On wax). No charted hit singles from this album, but a Single of "There Was A Time" was released under The Dee Felice Trio on Bethlehem label in late 1969. Since that time this cut has become a 'Sample' Favorite as well as an 'Underground' Club Favorite. I really don't think this was Reissued by popular demand...It was probably just something to release simply because it was James Brown, and the powers that be at Polydor (Verve) figured SOMEBODY will by it just because it's James Brown. If I just had to pick a few cute cuts from this album they would be "There Was A Time" which I spoke on earlier, Oh! And James brown is nowhere to be found on this Instrumental! Not even a scream or talking!!! This track alone is worth the price of the Compact Disc! "For Sentimental Reasons" is nice, but an Edited Version would have been much better. For a far better of "That's Life" check out the version on "Live At The Apollo, Volume II". On "All The Way" (Which is safe to say was rehearsed) we find our hero not trying to turn a good standard into a funk song...It's real nice. This project would have faired better if it had been a Dee Felice Trio instrumental album because James Brown's yelling and off-singing was not a match made in heaven...If James Brown just had to do something with The Dee Felice wouldn't it have been easier to call it "James Brown presents The Dee Felice Trio"?. To further prove how good the trio is without the help of James listen to the instrumental cut "Uncle" and you'll have a real good picture of what I'm talking about! Or for a perfect display of this group's talent James Brown produce a album on The Dee Felice Trio that was released about 2 (Two) Month's after the "Gettin' Down To It" album entitled "In Heat" you can even pick it up for under or around $1.00! Oh! And it includes a different mix of "There Was A Time" (has Added Horns) and "Uncle" is on that album as well! It's worth seeking out.

The Cd is missing thet last 2 songs on side 2. Gone-nowhere. I love the old, JB vinyl version. Love all JB's stuff, anyway he does it, but these folks are ripping us off. Don't buy it.

Take a very excellent Jazz trio and have the Godfather himself along with Marva Whitney for moral support and you have james Brown Live at the Holiday Inn Hotel Lobby. I speak as a true fan of James Brown and I have heard most of his various jazz reditions of standard songs but this is an example of James being totally out of his element. A jazz man, he ain't. This music is not even suitable for Macy's elevator. He never gave up his day job(night job) and thats good. Without Maceo, Jabo and the band, James Brown is a lost ball in tall weeds. 3 stars just because he is James Brown.

This is a very cool project. Mr. Brown is singing a few standards, as well as giving some of his hits a new twist. If you're a fan of the Godfather, you gotta have this!

This is an incredible jazz album put out by Verve records. I didn't think it'd turn out to be this great as I've never had a copy of the vinyl of this one. To all who are familiar with James Brown and do not dislike jazz--you will LOVE this. Not one song is skippable. The jazz version of 'Cold Sweat' on here is amazing.

Notable Tracks:

Sunny
Cold Sweat
Time After Time
All The Way