Ed Kelly & Friend featuring Pharoah Sanders
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Pharoah Sanders tenor & soprano saxophones [click here to see more vinyl featuring Pharoah Sanders]
Ed Kelly piano
Peter Barshay bass
Eddie Marshall drums
1 LP, standard sleeve
Limited edition
Original analog Master tape : YES
Heavy Press : 180g
Record color : black
Speed : 33 RPM
Size : 12'’
Stereo
Studio
Record Press : unspecified
Label : Pure Pleasure Records
Original Label : Theresa Records
Recorded at Bear West Studios, San Francisco
Remastered by Ray Staff at Air Mastering
Originally released in 1979
Tracks :
Side A :
1 Pippin
2 Answer Me My Love
3 You've Got To Have Freedom
4 Sweet Georgia Brown
Side B :
1 Rainbow Song
2 Newborn
3 You Send Me
Reviews :
“Ed Kelly was a legendary jazz figure in the Bay Area. In a unique career move, he chose family, life and church as his primary lifestyle. Though a native Texan, Kelly moved to Oakland when he was 8 and played organ in local church gatherings. He also performed with legendary artists like Nate Adderley, Jimmy Witherspoon, Milt Jackson, Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt. He recorded for East Bay label, Theresa Records and taught for over 20 years at Laney College. He split time between his jazz quintet and gospel “Arkestra”. Pure Pleasure Records has released a re-mastered 180-gram vinyl of a collaboration with Pharoah Sanders, Ed Kelly & Friend. In a combination of covers and original material, the legacy of Kelly is re-introduced. Side 1 opens with the accessible soulful jazz number, “Pippin”. With a mellow, funky groove, the jam anchored by dense bass, and electric piano, is framed by a horn/reed chorus and gossamer violin accents.. Sanders contributes a sultry run on tenor. Kelly takes over on keyboard countered by strings in a classic late 70’s West Coast jazz arrangement. There is a sustained pulse and visceral rhythm. Switching to a popular standard (“Answer Me My Love”), the quartet takes on much of the sentiment inhabited by Nat “King” Cole” in his version. Kelly starts with a flourish on piano. Then Sanders in atypical fashion adds his smooth, flowing element on saxophone. Kelly’s soloing is lyrical and articulate, with just the right touch of aspirational resonance.
Sanders gets to flex his swing muscles on his original, “You’ve Got To Have Freedom”. Bassist Peter Bashay and drummer Eddie Marshall lay down a propulsive framework as Pharoah stretches out the tonality. The musical chemistry is palpable as Kelly falls in with the rhythm section. There is harder jazz edginess with expanded instrumentation that underlies the intensity. Kelly’s solo ranges from full-bodied chording to brisk notation. The finish is ear-catching as the tenor reverberates in studio aesthetics. Showcasing his flexibility, Kelly goes old-school vaudeville/stride on “Sweet Georgia Brown”. His rolling left hand and overall bluesy insinuation shines on this nearly solo performance. Side B revisits the ambient fluency of strings with a glowing ballad, “Rainbow Song”. It exudes airy inflection and the exquisite reticence of Kelly’s piano is compelling. Sanders adds a different texture with soprano saxophone. Shifting gears, “Newborn” is aggressive and swings with rollicking African-infused syncopation. The addition of marimba and congas expands the musical tapestry. The finale is nothing short of breathtaking. Sam Cooke’s eternally timeless hit, “You Send Me” is translated into a stellar duet. Both Kelly and Sanders interact seamlessly as they weave around this familiar melody. Kelly’s refined performance is unusually perceptive and may be the exclamation point on his adroit skills. Sanders injects a hint of “free jazz” near the end of the song.
Pure Pleasure Records has done their customary superior re-mastering to 180-gram vinyl. The overall sound mix is balanced with excellent stereo separation. This is a great jazz album! ” Robbie Gerson, Audiophile Audition, February 2021
"In 1978 Pharoah Sanders went into the studio with pianist, Ed Kelly, who was an important figure in the local San Francisco and Oakland jazz scene. The two of them recorded six tracks which ranged from covers of standards, through soul jazz through to two real gems. The album was originally released as Ed Kelly and Friend due to Pharoah being contracted to Arista Records at the time. Indeed, as you can see, the cover shows Kelly playing next to Pharoah's hat, shoes and Selmer tenor saxophone.
"'Rainbow Song,' a Kelly composition, opens matters in a manner far removed from Pharoah's work on his Impulse albums (although there had been a dramatic change of course when he signed with Arista and recorded). This is firmly in Grover Washington Junior territory with a liberal sprinkling of oh so tasteful strings. The Master's sound is full and mighty as ever.
"With the radio track out of the way it is business as hoped for and Newborn is a Sanders composition that burns with intensity. The power of his solo is as good as anything he has produced and he runs over the full span of the tenor's range and onwards into territory lesser known or explored by 99% of sax players.
"Sam Cooke's 'You Send Me' is treated with reverence and respect, with Pharoah delivering a sensitive and heartfelt rendition and ending with some extraordinary phonics, which we will meet again on later albums. Kelly's accompaniment complements Sander's playing before he receives his own space for a shimmering yet restrained solo which discloses what this non-pianist assumes to be an agile right hand.
"'Answer Me My Love' is an early '50's ballad with a fascinating back story. On its initial release in post-war Britain, covers of this fine melody stirred sufficient controversy for the song to be banned by the BBC. What led to it being barred from broadcast on the Light Programme and treated like 'Anarchy For The U.K.,' 'Wet Dream' and 'Give Ireland Back To The Irish?' I can reveal that the reason for this draconian action was that the original version was entitled ‘Answer Me, My Lord.' In the olden days, it seems that a direct appeal to God was considered to be blasphemous — especially if set in a secular or selfish. Further research indicates that Nat King Cole made the most celebrated recording and that Bob Dylan used to sing it live in the 1990's, presumably during his overtly Christian phase. Anyway, it is a grand tune.
"Pharoah went on to record at least three studio versions of his great anthem 'You've Got To Have Freedom' but the one here is the earliest incarnation that I am aware of. It is also the most restrained treatment of the theme, although Pharoah's solo shows his ability to play with fire and power over the entire range of the horn. There's plenty of space for Kelly's piano too and he provides an elegant setting for Sanders' exploratory work." Downwithit.com
Ratings :
Discogs : 4.35 / 5 ; Audiophile Audition : 4.5 / 5