Black, Brown and Beautiful features several Oliver Nelson performances and much of Johnny Hodge's last album, Three Shades of Blue (arranged by Oliver Nelson). Only the Hodges material is of interest. But it is glorious music, with Nelson scoring several outstanding Ellington themes and, unfortunately, some silly Leon Thomas material for Hodges' well-known and ever-emotional alto. Hodges' last recording. Douglas Payne Tracklist & Credits :
A Roy Haynes CD that incorporates funk, soul, rock, and pop elements and includes electric keyboards and electric bass? In the generally conservative jazz climate of the 21st century -- a time when Wynton Marsalis and his equally rigid associates enjoy way too much influence -- the assumption is that a CD by someone of Haynes' caliber shouldn't be anything less than 100 percent purist in its outlook. But Haynes, truth be told, has long been versatile -- his resumé includes everyone from Pat Metheny to Lester "The Pres" Young -- and Quiet Fire reflects the veteran drummer's admirable diversity. Quiet Fire reissues two Galaxy LPs (1977's Thank You Thank You and 1978's Vistalite) back to back on a 77-minute CD. Haynes was in his early fifties when the albums were recorded, and he was obviously open to trying a variety of things. Parts of Quiet Fire are essentially straight-ahead post-bop, including Stanley Cowell's reflective "Sweet Song" and a hard-swinging version of Bronislaw Kaper's "Invitation." But a poppier, more R&B-influenced Haynes asserts himself on funky offerings like "Venus Eyes" and "Water Children" -- a Haynes who gives the impression that he's hip to Grover Washington, Jr., the Crusaders, Tom Scott, Charles Earland, Ronnie Laws, and other jazz-funksters of the '70s. At their best, all of those artists exemplified tasteful commercialism back then -- and Haynes brings a similar mentality to the more commercial parts of Quiet Fire. Haynes was definitely reaching out to soul, rock, and pop audiences at the time, but he did it with integrity; he never stooped to playing the sort of abysmal, mind-numbing elevator music that dominates today's NAC/smooth jazz formats. This CD is mildly uneven -- some of the tunes are more memorable than others -- but all things considered, Quiet Fire paints an attractive picture of Haynes in 1977 and 1978. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1. Thank You Thank You 6:55
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Roy Haynes
Electric Piano – George Cables
Tenor Saxophone – John Klemmer
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Bobby Hutcherson
Written-By – George Cables
2. Bullfight 11:13
Bass – Cecil McBee
Drums – Haynes
Electric Piano – Stanley Cowell
Guitar – Marcus Fiorillo
Percussion – Kenneth Nash
Piano – Milcho Leviev
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Hutcherson
Written-By – Roy Haynes
3. Quiet Fire 8:13
Bass – McBee
Drums – Haynes
Percussion – Nash
Piano – Cables
Written-By – George Cables
4. Processional 5:24
Drums – Haynes
Percussion – Nash
Written-By – Nash, Haynes
5. Sweet Song 6:21
Bass – McBee
Drums – Haynes
Piano – Cowell
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Hutcherson
Written-By – Stanley Cowell
6. Vistalite 5:55
Drums, Bell Tree – Haynes
Electric Bass – Dave Jackson
Electric Piano – Cowell
Flute – Ricardo Strobert
Guitar – Fiorillo
Percussion – Nash
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson
Written-By – Haynes
7. More Pain Than Purpose 5:43
Drums, Bell Tree – Haynes
Electric Bass – Jackson
Flute – Strobert
Guitar – Fiorillo
Piano – Cowell
Tenor Saxophone – Henderson
Written By – Scott / Cowell
8. Wonderin' 4:06
Bass – McBee
Drums – Haynes
Electric Piano – Cables, Cowell
Guitar – Fiorillo
Percussion – Nash
Written-By – Cecil McBee
9. Venus Eyes 4:41
Alto Saxophone – Strobert
Drums – Haynes
Electric Bass – Jackson
Electric Piano – Cowell
Guitar – Fiorillo
Tambourine – Nash
Written-By – John Stubblefield
10. Rok Out 6:30
Alto Saxophone – Strobert
Cowbell – Nash
Drums – Haynes
Electric Bass – Jackson
Guitar – Fiorillo
Tenor Saxophone – Henderson
Written-By – Marcus Fiorillo
11. Water Children 6:44
Bass – McBee
Drums – Haynes
Electric Piano – Leviev
Guitar – Fiorillo
Percussion – Nash
Piano – Cables
Written-By – Kenneth Nash
12. Invitation 6:05
Drums – Haynes
Electric Bass – Jackson
Piano – Cowell
Tenor Saxophone – Henderson
Written-By – Bronislau Kaper 
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