Blacks and Blues

Released

It took until 1971 for Blue Note to sign a woman who specialized in playing an instrument, and not long after that for her to deliver a masterpiece. While there were excellent moments on the flautist’s first two albums for the label — 1971’s Flute In and ’72 follow-up Dig This! — Bobbi Humphrey’s first session with the Mizell Brothers behind the boards was packed with cuts that range among the best soul-jazz sides ever recorded, with her piercing, melodious yet intense soloing gracing some of the most dance-motivating backing of the label’s prime funk-fusion era. The opening one-two of the tense glide “Chicago, Damn” and the top-down breeziness of “Harlem River Drive” alone see to that, with the title cut making for a radio-ready slice of urban-pastoral uplift and the moody explorations of “Baby’s Gone” as the coup de grace.

Nate Patrin

Suggestions
Yesterdays Universe! cover

Yesterdays Universe!

Various Artists, Madlib
Fyah cover

Fyah

Theon Cross
Sunny Side Up cover

Sunny Side Up

Various Artists
Melting Pot cover

Melting Pot

Booker T. & the M.G.'s
Joy Unlimited cover

Joy Unlimited

Harry Beckett
Emergency Exit cover

Emergency Exit

Throttle Elevator Music
Driftglass cover

Driftglass

SEED Ensemble
Linger Lane cover

Linger Lane

Bobby Hutcherson