Woody Herman "Heavy Exposure", Cadet 1969

Woody Herman, as many know his as a big band leader and fine clarinet player during swing era in 40s, before be bob started to take the spotlight in Jazz. Perhaps, the most famous for "Four Brothers", but he encourage young Jazz musicians to play with his band, whom later have become well-known figures in the history of Jazz. Even after Be Bop had become the much talked music, Herman was always keen to newer styles of music, and kept his versatilities by playing with big band / small band / pop, rock, soul-oriented music.

During 60s, Herman records with 3 albums with Cadet Records.With Cadent arranger Richard Evans, surprisingly he plays more rock and soul music at that time, mixing with Herman's splashy big band with Evans' soulful groove. This is Woody Herman "Heavy Exposure", released by Cadet in 1969. On this recording, he and producer / arranger Richard Evans combines Soul-Jazz arrangement into Herman's conventional big band style of playing, very tight with horns and yet groovy with fuzzy guitar, and funky drumming and percussions.

BTW, Donny Hathaway plays organ on the album.

Side A:
1. Flying easy (Donny Hathaway)
2. I can't get next to you (Whitfield & Strong)
3. Aquarius (J. Rado, G. Ragni, G. MacDermot)
4. Memphis underground (Herbie Mann)
5. High school hero (Jake Holmes)
6. Lancaster gate (Richard Evans)

Side B:
1. The hut (Richard Evans)
2. My cherie amour (Cosby, Wonder & May)
3. It's your thing (Richard Evans)
4. Catch that bird (Loonis McGlohan)
5. Sex machine (Sylvester Stewart)

Personnel:
Gene Perla - Bass
Edward Soph (tracks: A1, A5, B1, B2, B4, B5) - Drums
Morris Jennings (tracks: A2 to A4, A6, B3) - Drums
Phil Upchurch - Guitar
Donny Hathaway - Organ
Marshall Thompson - Percussion
Richard Powell - Percussion
John Hicks - Piano
Richard Evans - Producer, Arranger
Alan Gauvin - Reeds
Frank Vicari - Reeds
Sal Nistico - Reeds
Steve Lederer - Reeds
Woody Herman - Saxophone, Clarinet
Bobby Burgess - Trombone
Pete Dalbis - Trombone
Tom Malone - Trombone
Bill Chase - Trumpet
Harry Hall - Trumpet
Jeff Brillinger - Trumpet
Richard Murphy - Trumpet
Rigby Powell - Trumpet
William Byrne - Trumpet

Woody Herman & Richard Evans "The Hut"

Ramsey Lewis "Up Pops", Cadet 1967

For any jazz records, you cannot ignore the album cover, especially when the album has pop-oriented covers and R&B materials. But you never know what you come across until you actually listen to the record.

This is Ramsey Lewis "Up Pops", released by Cadet in 1967. The album is arranged by Richard Evans. First, it is Ramsey Lewis in 60s, with his soul-jazz and funky-jazz piano sound. If you like jazz-funk, jazz-pop, soul-jazz, and think that you need electric guitar and bass and vocal, full band outlet, you definitely want to listen to his albums. Ramsey Lewis is probably the one of a few pianist who can create soulful sound with trio.

Second, it's Cadet and it's Richard Evans. He is the leading arrangers and producers along with Charles Stepney at Argo/Cadet Records during this time. He conducts strings for the album. Having said that, jazz album with strings does not sound like a good mix, as if the whole album becomes mellow and too much pop-influenced (not much improvisation). But Richard Evans is not ordinary arranger. He brings lively, changing, heavy sound with strings. I have been listening to arrangements by Richard Evans quite often for some time now, and I highly recommend this album as the example of classic Cadet sound.


Ramsey Lewis: piano
Cleveland Eaton: bass
Maurice White: drums

Side 1

Soul Man
The Look of Love
Respect
Goin' out of My Head
Party Time

Side 2

Bear Mash
I Was Made to Love Her
Alfie
Why Am I Treated so Bad
Jade East