Howard Roberts' "Color Him Funky": unusual

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I am not saying Smith and Roberts were unserious

Actually, you did say that -

Smith did not make serious jazz music

[jameslovestal]

There's amazing guitar playing on all HR's Capital sides but Color Him Funky and HR is a Dirty Guitar Player stand out as a bit less pop and more jazz oriented than subsequent releases. I first heard Color Him Funky when it came out in 63 and it's still a go-to album for me. He was the man for a whole generation of players. (My loyalty was split between Gabor Szabo and HR.) I heard HR live at Dante's in 1968 (Magic Band ) and might even have been in the audience when the recordings were done. Watching a guitar player of that caliber stretch out like that at 17yrs old sealed my fate and lit a fire that's never gone out. Also I dug his "black guitar" so much on CHF, my Slaman is an homage to that particular ax. From something I read, I believe Howard Roberts regarded those Capitol records as just commercial work and found it amusing so many players were into them .

Was it Dante's or Donte's? It was the latter if in North Hollywood CA\USA. Also, the year was 1988, and not 1968 (at least the HR Magic Band concert I went to at Donte's).

If you were in So Cal around that time, did you ever see HR with Gabor Szabo? I did and it was my favorite HR concert since the two were more focused on jazz standards (instead of the Magic Band doing 15-minute songs with overly long solos for everyone).

[Dean_G]

I'm sorry, it was Donte's in North Hollywood. But 1968. I don't recall it being actually called the Magic Band. If memory serves it was billed as Howard Roberts but I might not remember that correctly. I'd come out to visit my aunt and uncle who lived in N Hollywood. My uncle got me in as I was under age I guess at 17. Tom Scott was playing tenor.Yes the solos were long, but I dug it. And as a 17 year old I loved how HR would turn his guitar face down after blowing, light up a smoke, and sit with his shades on while the other cats blew. The band was burning. I don't recall him comping much.
I never saw Gabor live but I loved his playing especially with Charles Lloyd on "Of Course, Of Course" and Spellbinder.I can't quite imagine him and HR together. That must've been really interesting.

[Litterick]

Actually, you did say that -

A serious musician can make light-hearted music.

[Litterick]

Sure it's marketing. But humor is ok by me. Amusement too. Way Out West, by Sonny Rollins, Straight No Chaser by Monk. I'm not saying HRs sides were on that level, just that we can't dismiss the music on the basis of marketing. There's plenty of authentic expression in Howard's solos and a lot to learn from on those Capitol recordings. Often a comedian can get a message across while a lecture often doesn't.

I am not dismissing his music. I like it.