The Jody Grind

• Artist: Horace Silver
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1966
• Total Time: 40:40
• Type: Instrumental
• Genre: Jazz

Review

Following the subtly modern bent of much of The Cape Verdean Blues, Horace Silver recommitted himself to his trademark "funky jazz" sound on The Jody Grind. Yet he also consciously chose to keep a superbly advanced front line, with players like trumpeter Woody Shaw (retained from the Cape Verdean session), altoist/flutist James Spaulding, and tenor saxophonist Tyrone Washington. Thus, of all Silver's groove-centered records, The Jody Grind winds up as possibly the most challenging. It's also one of the most underappreciated; Silver's piano playing is at its rhythmic, funky best throughout, brimming over with confidence and good cheer, and evoking memories of the classic feel of his early-'60s quintet. His compositions have a similarly bright overtone, which (as the liner notes allude to) was becoming increasingly rare in mid-'60s jazz as the fury of the avant-garde and the Civil Rights upheaval began to seep into jazz's wider consciousness. The title cut is a playful, overlooked classic on the funky side of hard bop; Silver kicks it with a tasty groove, giving the rest of the musicians plenty to play off of. The whole group absolutely burns through "Grease Piece," a terrific hard swinger full of smoking solo statements from just about everyone on down to drum whiz Roger Humphries. Really, the whole album is packed with great grooves and tight solos, epitomizing the best virtues of Silver's music. For those who have digested classics like Song for My Father, Blowin' the Blues Away, and Finger Poppin', The Jody Grind is one of the best places to go next. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
The Jody Grind	Horace Silver	Horace Silver	(5:53)
Mary Lou	Horace Silver	Horace Silver	(7:12)
Mexican Hip Dance	Horace Silver	Horace Silver	(5:56)
Blue Silver	Horace Silver	Horace Silver	(6:00)
Grease Piece	Horace Silver	Horace Silver	(7:34)
Dimples	Horace Silver	Horace Silver	(7:18)

Credits

Rudy Van Gelder (Engineer), Francis Wolff (Liner Notes), Reid Miles (Photography), Alfred Lion (Producer), Horace Silver (Piano), Leonard Feather (Liner Notes), Takao Ogawa (Translation), Woody Shaw (Trumpet), James Spaulding (Flute), Tyrone Washington (Sax (Tenor)), Larry Ridley (Bass), Reid Miles (Design), Roger Humphries (Drums), James Spaulding (Sax (Alto))

• Genres: Rock

Biography

Before there was a Cocktail Nation and a mania for retro lounge music, Atlanta's Jody Grind were turning out jazzy renditions of Gershwin, Bacharach and Dusty Springfield numbers, country & western standards and original rock songs that hybridized those forms with alternative music. Singer Kelly Hogan distinguished the band (Bill Taft; guitars, Walter Brewer; drums and Robert Hayes; bass) from any number of alternative groups, as she was a real singer and used her beautiful voice to great effect. Long an Atlanta scene favorite, in 1990 DB Records released One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure. Followed by the more experimental Lefty's Deceiver, the band's career was cut short following a car accident which killed two members. Hogan continues to perform as a solo act in Atlanta and has released one record. ~ Denise Sullivan, All Music Guide

Lefty's Deceiver Buy this CD

One Man's Trash Is Another Man's Treasure Buy this CD

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