SLAMMIN' & JAMMIN'

Charles Earland was known as the Mighty Burner for the?intense way he commanded the Hammond B-3. Earland?was originally a saxophonist who taught himself the unwieldy?organ during a sax stint in Jimmy McGriff's band. Right from?the get go, Earland coaxed the most individual of sounds?from the Hammond B-3, firing off machine-gun ostinatos?balanced with a cavalcade of just-right cushioning from his?left hand and, most notably, a string-bassist's command of?the organ's difficult foot pedals.?Earland's May 1997 recording of Slammin' & Jammin', now?re-released by Savant as part of their 180-gram LP series, is?among the Mighty Burner's very best. The six cookers here -?not a ballad in the bunch - a collection of familiar and?soulful covers, these grooves are ones Earland himself?always admired. From Bill Doggett's Honky Tonk and Joe?Zawinul's Mercy, Mercy, Mercy to Stanley Turrentine's Sugar?and the late Grover Washington Jr.'s Mr. Magic, Earland?shares his love of these tunes with some especially strong?grooving. Guitarist Melvin Sparks, and funky drummer?supreme, Bernard Purdie get loose and just play the way?they were meant to play. Carlos Garnett adds his surprisingly?warm tenor sax groove to Honky Tonk and Mr. Magic.?These guys must have loved doing this date: playing the stuff?they like, exactly the way they want. It cooks.??Charles Earland - Hammond B-3?Carlos Garnett - tenor saxophone?Melvin Sparks - guitar * Eric Sealls - bass?Bernard Purdie - drums * Gary Fritz - percussion??SIDE A?1. HONKY TONK 5:17?2. SUGAR 6:10?3. MERCY MERCY 7:19?SIDE B?1. WHEN JOHNNY COMES?MARCHING HOME 7:05?2. BLUES FOR SHEILA 6:58?3. MR. MAGIC 7:20