Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Jazz Soul Seven: Impressions of Curtis Mayfield

Jazz Soul Seven: Impressions of Curtis Mayfield

By Mark F. Turner
April 30, 2012
View read count

Jazz Soul Seven: Impressions of Curtis Mayfield

While he may not be as recognized as

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder or

James Brown

vocals
1933 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">James Brown,

" data-original-title="" title="">Curtis Mayfield left an indelible mark on American popular music as a pioneering instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and R&B producer. His compositions—including the score for the iconic blaxploitation film Super Fly (1972)—are compelling, incorporating the heritage of urban soul and gospel music and providing socially conscious messages—commentaries on the Vietnam War, inner city poverty, drug abuse and the tumultuous struggles of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s. His legacy is celebrated on Impressions of Curtis Mayfield by the Jazz Soul Seven, a band of ace jazz stars whose members include older and younger "groove aficionados" such guitarist

Phil Upchurch

guitar
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Phil Upchurch and drummer

Terri Lyne Carrington

drums
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Terri Lyne Carrington.

The band's depth and sophistication imparts Mayfield's genius with equal doses of soul and swing in sweet rebirthings of popular tunes ("Move On Up") and forgotten jewels ("Beautiful Brother of Mine"). The melodies are unspoiled, allowing for creative liberties such as Upchurch's smooth fretwork on "Keep On Pushing" or the

Yellowjackets

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Yellowjackets's pianist

Russell Ferrante

keyboards
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Russell Ferrante's perfectly phrased comps on the gospel-influenced "People Get Ready." The rhythmic foundation of the band is exemplified by the resilience of bassist Robert Hurst and Carrington's wonderful swing-walk drumming on the killer version (no pun intended} of "Freddie's Dead."

Veteran horn masters

Wallace Roney

trumpet
1960 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Wallace Roney and

Ernie Watts

saxophone, tenor
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernie Watts provide the juice with muted horn cries and burnished sax lines that radiate both heat and cool. The late Master Henry Gibson's percussion ignites the already uplifting sentiments of "We're a Winner," elevating Roney's dynamic horn. The band's bond tangibly provides memorable highlights such as the conclusion of "Superfly," where the horns repeatedly echo the song's verse, "trying to get over," as Upchurch burns out a copacetic solo.

The many highlights include an ultra-tight "Check Out Your Mind" and the hit ballad "I'm So Proud," which was first recorded by the Mayfield-led pop group, The Impressions, in the 1960s. It's re-imagined here with an upbeat tempo and a West African flavor, the horns trading the amorous melody. From start to finish, the Jazz Soul Seven's dedication to Curtis Mayfield doesn't falter. The music suggests that, while yesteryear's Afros, platforms shoes and bell-bottoms were super cool, Mayfield's message was much deeper and still holds relevance today.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Freddie's Dead; It's All Right; Move On Up; We're a Winner; Superfly; Beautiful Brother of Mine; Check Out Your Mind; I'm So Proud; Keep On Pushing; People Get Ready; Gypsy Woman; Amen.

Personnel

Jazz Soul Seven

Terri Lyne Carrington: drums; Russ Ferrante: piano; Master Henry Gibson: percussion; Bob Hurst: bass; Wallace Roney: trumpet; Phil Upchurch: guitar; Ernie Watts: saxophone.

Album information

Title: Impressions of Curtis Mayfield | Year Released: 2012 | Record Label: BFM Jazz

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Solo
< Previous

Waiting for Columbus
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.