pjw, I like “Red Clay”. I have always had mixed feelings about most (not all) CTI recordings. Red Clay is one that I like a lot ....with some relatively minor reservations. You asked for my take:
It stays closer to the vibe of the classic hard bop recordings with just a kind of “peek” into the over produced, not quite straight-ahead Jazz, not quite Funk, not quite Soul vibe of some other CTI’s. Something that gives them, for me, a somewhat “lite” character.
Freddie sounds great. One of my reservations, and one of the reasons that I like early Freddie so much is that while he was by then (Red Clay) a much more fully formed stylist, at the same time he was starting to show something that has often been a little annoying for me me from that point forward in his career. Lots of Freddieisms on that record. Little pet licks and trumpetistic (?) inflections that he would use in just about every solo; a signature sound, but comes across as a little cliched at times. And, a kind of relentless quality; always on fire. Some would would say I’m nitpicking, but I usually enjoy pre-CTI Freddie best. Lastly, Joe Henderson sounds amazing as always, but he shouldn’t be playing the flute; doesn’t sound very good. And, even though he can do no wrong in my book, Herbie is not entirely convincing playing organ.
It stays closer to the vibe of the classic hard bop recordings with just a kind of “peek” into the over produced, not quite straight-ahead Jazz, not quite Funk, not quite Soul vibe of some other CTI’s. Something that gives them, for me, a somewhat “lite” character.
Freddie sounds great. One of my reservations, and one of the reasons that I like early Freddie so much is that while he was by then (Red Clay) a much more fully formed stylist, at the same time he was starting to show something that has often been a little annoying for me me from that point forward in his career. Lots of Freddieisms on that record. Little pet licks and trumpetistic (?) inflections that he would use in just about every solo; a signature sound, but comes across as a little cliched at times. And, a kind of relentless quality; always on fire. Some would would say I’m nitpicking, but I usually enjoy pre-CTI Freddie best. Lastly, Joe Henderson sounds amazing as always, but he shouldn’t be playing the flute; doesn’t sound very good. And, even though he can do no wrong in my book, Herbie is not entirely convincing playing organ.