Customer Reviews

Lighthouse '68

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When I found this album in a drawer at my parents' house, I had to have it. The Crusaders had me at the first track, and they had me for good with the second. Although the Crusaders moved eventually into more R&B circles, they will always remain part of Jazz in my mind. The Crusaders are in top form in '68, and the audience at the Lighthouse Club is an extremely responsive one, which makes for a fun live album. "Ooga-Boo-Ga-Loo" really bops, and the Jazz interpretation of "Eleanor Rigby" is a lot mellower (and frankly more fun) than the Beatles' original. The "Native Dancer" track is an interesting one too--it feels like a cross between belly-dancing and Native American tribal dance. Kinda cool. One more thing about the Crusaders: their pianist absolutely rocks in this album. They're wonderful and flawless live performers. Take it from the Neohpyte: buy this album.

Back in the late 50s and early 60s I hung around the Lighthouse as a buddy of mine had an apartment just down the alley and back then it was "Smokin". Never ran into the Jazz Crusaders, however I've been a huge fan of them since whenever-altho when they changed their name the music changed also. I consider this album my alltime 2nd favorite. Anyone that is into hard driving Be-Bop style will love this one.