Mr. Fathead

by David "Fathead" Newman

Overview

At its best, soul-jazz has successfully blended the accessibility of R&B with the freedom and spontaneity of jazz. Many of David "Fathead" Newman's more commercial recordings of the 1960s and 1970s fit that description, like Hank Crawford, Grover Washington, Jr., Stanley Turrentine, and David Sanborn, Newman showed a lot of R&B fans that improvisatory horn solos weren't something to be afraid of. Improvisation, however, isn't something that you will hear a lot of on 1976's disappointing Mr. Fathead, which was produced by Joel and Jonathan Dorn. For the most part, this erratic and unfocused LP isn't soul-jazz, most of the material is either disco-funk or lightweight instrumental pop. A few of the tunes are OK; "Groovin' to the Music" is a catchy disco-funk item along the lines of the Brass Construction and the Crown Heights Affair, and the gritty, infectious "Mashooganah" is somewhere between soul-jazz and fusion. But for the most part, Mr. Fathead wastes Newman's considerable talents. This record is strictly for completists. ~ Alex Henderson

Product Details

Release Date:	05/18/2010
Label:	Wounded Bird
UPC:	0664140291720
Rank:	43642

Tracks

1. Dance With Me
2. Groovin' To The Music
3. You Got Style
4. Ebo Man
5. Shiki
6. Promise Me Your Love
7. I Love Music
8. Mashooganah

Album Credits

Performance Credits

David "Fathead" Newman   Primary Artist,Flute,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Sax (Soprano)
David Newman   Primary Artist
Diane Cameron   Vocals (Background)
David Carey   Chimes,Tambourine,Vibraphone
Deborah McDuffie   Vocals (Background)
Warren Laffredo   String Section
Guy Lumia   String Section
Yoko Matsuo   String Section
Jose Cruz   Piano,Piano (Electric)
Bessye Scott   Vocals (Background)
Deborah McGriff   Vocals (Background)
Keith Loving   Guitar
Norman Carr   String Section
Tony Posk   String Section
John Rodriguez   Percussion
Marie Hence   String Section
David Valentine   Percussion
Thomas Kornacker   String Section
Elliot Rosoff   String Section
Eugene Moye   String Section
Jimmy Johnson   Drums
Ben Lanzarrone   Piano (Electric)
Benjamin Carter   Vocals (Background)
Denise Flythe   Vocals (Background)
Nathaniel Gibbs   Drums
Richard Landry   Sax (Tenor)
Patti Austin   Vocals (Background)
Harold Kohon   String Section
Andy Newmark   Drums
Sanford Allen   String Section
Gene Orloff   String Section
Jerry Friedman   Guitar
Burt Collins   Trumpet
Dom Um Romao   Percussion
Jonathan Dorn   Tuba
Joe Shepley   Trumpet
Frank Floyd   Vocals (Background)
Ron Carter   Bass
Luis Cruz   Guitar
Buddy Morrow   Trombone
Bill Salter   Bass
Jim Bossy   Trumpet
William Eaton   Vocals (Background)
Selwart Clarke   Viola,String Section
William S. Fischer   String Ensemble,Piano (Electric)
Ralph MacDonald   Percussion
Anthony Jackson   Guitar (Bass)
Richard Peck   Sax (Tenor)
Kathryn Kienke   String Section
Arthur Jenkins   Piano,Conductor,Keyboards
Jimmie Young   Drums
Pat Rebillot   Clavinet
Julien Barber   String Section
Yvonne Fletcher   Vocals (Background)
Harry Zaratzian   String Section
Ariana Bronne   String Section

Technical Credits

Brian Hagiwara   Design
Deborah McGriff   Composer
Ed Thrasher   Art Direction
David Gahr   Photography
Harold Edgerton   Cover Photo
Vernon Gibbs   Liner Notes
Gregory P. Coverdale   Composer,Vocal Arrangement
Bob Liftin   Mixing,Engineer
Kenny Gamble   Composer
Johanna Hall   Composer
John Hall   Composer
Jonathan Dorn   Producer
Billy Slapin   Musician
David "Fathead" Newman   Composer
William Salter   Composer
William S. Fischer   Arranger,Composer
Vince McGarry   Mastering
Joel Dorn   Producer
Leon Huff   Composer
Ralph MacDonald   Composer
Arthur Jenkins   Arranger,Composer
Diane Cameron   Composer