Like many of the classic CTI and Kudu releases of the ‘70s, Soul Box speaks for different times but is somehow timeless in its message and overall excellence. For those who are only aware of Washington’s more commercial oeuvre, it will come as a revelation. But for those of us well aware of his solid jazz credentials, this one remains an undeniable classic.
{ Andrew Hovan - allaboutjazz.com }
The early work of alto saxophonist and composer Grover Washington, Jr. is a rare and beautiful thing to behold. His entire Kudu period, marked by the albums Inner City Blues, All the King's Horses, Soul Box, Mister Magic, and Feels So Good, is brilliant, solid urban groove jazz played with grace, mean chops, and slippery funkiness. Soul Box, a double LP recorded in 1973, has Creed Taylor's production enhanced by a symphony orchestra and full-blown jazz band arranged and conducted by Bob James. Some of the session men include Ron Carter, Billy Cobham, Eric Gale, Idris Muhammad, Airto, and Richard Tee. Soul Box only contains seven cuts. Among them are truly innovative reads of Billy Cobham's "Taurian Matador," Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," a side-long jam on Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man" (the album's centerpiece and masterpiece), and the deep funk of Norman Whitfield's "Masterpiece." "Trouble Man," however, is the cut on which all the contradictions of the session come to bear and are resolved due in large part to Washington's deeply lyrical improvising and James' ability to layer an orchestra into a groove. There are cadenzas written in after choruses that bring the orchestra in to accent the sketchy funk in the tune and bring out its deep blue hues. When Washington gets to the front of it all, he lets go like he's crying from the heart. On other tracks, the orchestra adds the right drama or sweetness -- as it does on Wonder's cut -- but Washington makes them grittier, with soloing that sidles up to the melody before reinventing it. For its length, Soul Box
{ allmusic.com }
Soul Box, Vol. 1 Track Listing:
01 Aubrey
02 Masterpiece
03 Trouble Man
Soul Box, Vol. 2 Track Listing:
01 You Are the Sunshine of My Life
02 Don't Explain
03 Easy Living/Ain't Nobody's Busienss If I Do/Taurian Matador
Credits of Soul Box, Vol. 1:
Barbara Massey: Vocals | Charles McCracken: Cello | Gene Orloff: Violin | Randy Peyton Quartet: Vocals | George Ricci: Cello | Maretha Stewart: Vocals | Grover Washington, Jr.: Saxophone | Seymour Borab: Cello | Joe Molin: Violin | Bernard Thacker: Vocals | Emanuel Vardi: Viola | Gharles Libove: Violin | Bill Eaton: Vocals | Elliot Rosoff: Violin | David Nadien: Violin | Alfred Brown: Viola | Harry Cykman: Violin | Max Ellen: Violin | Paul Gershman: Violin | Eileen Gilbert Vocals | Emanuel Green: Violin | Harry Lookofsky: Violin | Theodore Israel: Viola | Harold Kohon: Violin | Charles Libove: Violin
Credits of Soul Box, Vol. 2
Donald MacCourt: Bassoon | Joseph Malin: Violin | George Marge: Flute, Oboe, Piccolo | Barbara Massey: Vocals | Charles McCracken: Cello | Gene Orloff: Violin | Romeo Penque: Clarinet, Horn (English), Oboe, Piccolo, Clarinet (Bass), Flute | Randy Peyton Quartet: Vocals | Alan Raph: Trombone (Bass) | George Ricci: Cello | Santo Russo: Trombone | Maretha Stewart: Vocals | Tony Studd: Trombone (Bass) | Richard Tee: Organ | Brooks Tillotson: French Horn | Grover Washington, Jr.: Saxophone, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor), Sax (Alto) | Wally Kane: Clarinet, Sax (Bass), Sax (Baritone), Flute, Clarinet (Contrabass) | Bernard Thacker: Vocals | Emanuel Vardi: Viola | Peter Gordon: French Horn | Bill Eaton: Vocals | Elliot Rosoff: Violin | Jay Berliner: Guitar | Ralph MacDonald: Percussion | David Nadien: Violin | Airto Moreira: Percussion | Wayne Andre: Trombone | Seymour Barab: Cello | Randy Brecker: Trumpet, Flugelhorn | Alfred Brown: Viola | James Buffington: French Horn | Billy Cobham: Composer, Drums | Harry Cykman: Violin | Max Ellen: Violin | Harvey Estrin: Flute, Piccolo, Recorder | Paul Faulise: Trombone (Bass) | John Frosk:Trumpet, Flugelhorn | Eric Gale: Guitar | Paul Gershman: Violin | Eileen Gilbert: Vocals | Bernie Glow: Trumpet, Flugelhorn | Emanuel Green: Violin | Harry Lookofsky: Violin | Idris Muhammad: Drums | Theodore Israel: Viola | Harold Kohon: Violin | Phil Kraus: Percussion | Charles Libove: Violin | Ron Carter: Bass, Bass (Electric) | Richard Davis: Bass | Jon Faddis:Trumpet, Flugelhorn | Bob James: Piano, Arranger, Piano (Electric) | Hubert Laws: Flute, Piccolo | David Friedman: Percussion
