johnny hammond gears vinyl Johnny Hammond

johnny hammond gears vinyl Johnny HammondORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER Organ, Synthesizer, Electric Piano Johnny Hammond Clavinet Fonce Mizell Keyboards Larry Mizell Cymbal, Gong, Percussion Kenneth Nash Drums Harvey Mason Electric Bass Chuck Rainey Electric Piano Jerry Peters Flute, Vibraphone Roger Glenn Guitar Craig McMullen, John Rowin Piano Jerry Peters Tenor Saxophone Hadley Caliman Trombone Julian Priester Violin Michael White Conductor Sigidi Arranged by Larry Mizell Vocals

ORDER LIMITED TO ONE ITEM PER CUSTOMER

Organ, Synthesizer, Electric Piano – Johnny Hammond

Clavinet – Fonce Mizell

Keyboards – Larry Mizell

Cymbal, Gong, Percussion – Kenneth Nash

Drums – Harvey Mason

Electric Bass – Chuck Rainey

Electric Piano – Jerry Peters

Flute, Vibraphone – Roger Glenn

Guitar – Craig McMullen, John Rowin

Piano – Jerry Peters

Tenor Saxophone – Hadley Caliman

Trombone – Julian Priester

Violin – Michael White

Conductor – Sigidi

Arranged by Larry Mizell

Vocals arranged by Larry & Fonce Mizell

Written by Larry & Fonce Mizell

1LP, standard sleeve

Limited edition

Original analog Master tape : YES

Heavy Press : 180g

Record color : black

Speed : 33RPM

Size : 12”

Stereo

Studio

Record Press : Record Technology Incorporated

Label : Craft Recordings

Original Label : Milestone

Recorded July 1975 at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California

Recorded by Eddie Bill Harris

Engineered and mixed by David Hassinger, Jim Nipar

Produced by Larry and Fonce Mizell

Executive Producer – Orrin Keepnews

Remixed at The Sound Factory

Mastered and lacquer cut by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio

Art Direction by Phil Carroll

Cover photography by Charlie Franklin

Liner photography by Phil Bray

Originally released in 1975

Reissued in July 2023

Tracks:

Side A:

1. Tell Me What to Do
2. Los Conquistadores Chocolatés
3. Lost on 23rd Street

Side B:

1. Fantasy
2. Shifting Gears
3. Can't We Smile?

Reviews :

“By the mid-'70s, the embracing and assimilation of soul and funk elements into the jazz vernacular had come full steam. Artists and producers from both communities were exchanging ideas and sounds that once again challenged jazz purists' definitions of what jazz "should" be. These collaborations were often scoffed at by academics and critics attempting to pigeonhole and quantify jazz into an academic exercise ripe with songbook predictability and sonic parameters. Thankfully, the record-buying public at large had the good sense to politely ignore these people and continue purchasing records with these new sounds, largely concocted by the production team of Larry and Fonce Mizell. This time around, their subject was Johnny "Hammond" Smith who proves to be more than up to the task of playing around and inside the Mizell's string arrangements which foreshadowed the early days of disco. In fact, two of the cuts found on Gears -- "Fantasy" and "Los Conquistadores Chocolates" -- were played extensively at the early Loft parties hosted by legendary DJ David Mancuso, as well as at the club many consider to be the true home of disco, the Paradise Garage in NYC. Gears starts off innocently enough with "Tell Me What To Do," which could have easily found its way on to a Donald Byrd album from this period, but then kicks into full steam with "Los Conquistadores Chocolates," a six-and-a-half-minute tour de force of funk, soul, jazz and disco all rolled into one. Hammond is in fine form throughout with crisp playing; never over improvising, but playing only what's necessary to help the music move along at a brisk pace. This is unquestionably another jewel in a treasure chest already filled with so many for the Mizell production team, and a great performance by Hammond to keep up with his contemporaries who refuse to be held back by conventional wisdom.” AllMusic Review by Rob Theakston

Ratings :

AllMusic : 4 / 5 ; Discogs : 4.8 / 5