Arlen Roth & Jerry Jemmott — “Super Soul Session!” — Blue Heart Records
The title of this splendid album is already a great description of its music — super and soulful. But I would add one word: smooooth.
This smooth, soulful music is the result of combining the talents of two sensational musicians from an era when soul music sweetened the land — guitarist Arlen Roth, the “Master of the Telecaster,” and bassist Jerry Jemmott, “The Groovemaster,” a member of the legendary R&B group, King Curtis & The Kingpins.
Both men lent their considerable talents to some of the biggest names in music in the late 1960s and ’70s. They include Paul Butterfield, Art Garfunkel, John Prine, Pete Seeger, the Bee Gees, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor and more (Roth), and Aretha Franklin and B.B. King (Jemmott, who is currently grooving with the Little Village people and Kid Anderson’s Greaseland studio.)
For this session they gathered keyboardists Bruce Katz and Alex Salzman, rhythm guitarist Tom Gage, drummer Chris Parker, the Uptown Horns and special guests Joe Louis Walker and African vocalist Mukamuri.
Then they added a selection of a few of their favorite songs, some of which they were instrumental in creating as session and touring musicians.
The result? This super smooooth soul session. The tracks are all classics, instantly recognizable as the soundtracks from many a life back in their days.
Mukamuri, a solid soul singer from Zimbabwe and based in Doylestown, Pa., and from whom we need to hear much more, reaches back in time and mood to open the set with “I’m Just a Mortal Man,” from Jerry Lawson of The Persuasions.
“(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” is the first of several pure instrumental tracks highlighting Roth and/or Jemmott. These selections make an unusual musical statement here, dispensing with familiar lyrics and cutting to their soulful essence. It’s a refreshing take, with Roth’s fluid guitar leading the way, ahead of a punchy horn section.
“Dancing In the Street,” another instrumental, follows with its rock steady groove dedicated to James Jamerson, one of the best of the bass players, complimented nicely by smooth slide guitar.
Joe Louis Walker takes us back to the B.B. King standard, “The Thrill is Gone;” Mukamuri returns with Lexie Roth on the soaring Jackie Wilson number, “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” and then an instrumental “Chain of Fools,” still gorgeous without Aretha. Walker comes back with a vengeance on “Shake,” one of last songs Sam Cooke recorded before his death, and Mukamuri breathes new life into Dobie Gray’s giant hit, “Drift Away.”
Roth shows up with his voice and his slide for a swampy version of the Rolling Stones’ “Down Home Girl,” by Artie Butler and Jerry Leiber (which is worth mentioning simply because Leiber’s name, usually with Mike Stoller’s, turns up on so much great music from that era).
Roth turns his guitar into the vocalist on a lively version of “The Weight,” and Mukamuri steps back in with a soulfully countrified version of “Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues, with some lovely guitar work.
“Memphis Soul Stew” is a track from “King Curtis Live at Fillmore West,” with original Kingpin Jemmott back, introducing himself and the narrating the recipe for this simmering soul standard with Ronee Martin.
The session ends fittingly with a stirring instrumental version of “America the Beautiful” with Katz on piano and organ that revives the soul-drenched spirit of Ray Charles’ eloquent 1972 version.
This album offers a gorgeous take on some of the most memorable musical moments from the defining era of soul music. It’s fresh, it’s nostalgic — it’s great listening. Slip into it slowly late at night with some smooooth whiskey. It’s guaranteed to fill that hole in your… well, you know.
“I’m Just a Mortal Man”:
Blues Roadhouse 