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Beyond The Sea

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Beyond The Sea --- 2010-06-08

Recorded at Bach Dancing And Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay, CA, August 23, 2009 This is Rhoda Scott’s second release for Doodlin’ Records and her first live recording in the United States in many years. Hear how she thrills the audience with her patented organ style and how saxophonist Ricky Woodard and drummer Akira Tana move her forward with their energy. Vocalist Kim Nalley adds extra spice with three vocals straight from the duo performances that she and Rhoda have been known for in the Bay Area. Here, from the liner notes, are words from famed record producer and radio host, Bob Porter: For her second album, it was decided to return Rhoda to her original format of organ, tenor sax and drums. Ricky Woodard was an inspired choice and his playing here is some of the best he has put on record. Woodard has been one of the major voices on his instrument for almost thirty years and has worked with Ray Charles, the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, Jimmy Smith and Jeannie Cheatham’s Sweet Baby Blues Band. Drummer Akira Tana completes the cast. He had originally been inspired by Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey and, after studying with Alan Dawson, had worked with almost everyone of note in the New York area, including bassist Rufus Reid, with whom he co-led his own combo. He returned to his native California in 1999 and has continued his active free-lance work. The original Rhoda Scott trio featured Joe Thomas on tenor sax and Bill Elliot on drums. It was one of the great delights of the Newark scene in the early 60s. Their headquarters was the Key Club, at Williams and Halsey Streets. Rhoda has fond memories of the club such as the night Jimmy McGriff brought Buddy Rich in to play with him or the all day New Year’s Day marathons when owner Jean Dawkins would cook ham hocks and black-eyed peas and fly the trio in from some distant location in order to join the festivities and fly them back out again the next day. Much the same ambiance is featured in the music recorded here. Bach Dancing and Dynamite in Half Moon Bay was the club and the crowd is clearly into the music. Vocalist Kim Nalley, a major performer in the San Francisco Bay area joined the proceedings for several tunes. She and Rhoda had worked together on previous visits and clearly they enjoy each other. Chief among the musical highlights here is the title track-a French song “La Mer” - best known with the English lyric in Bobby Darin’s hit as “Beyond The Sea”. We have two different versions, one with a Kim Nalley vocal, at ballad tempo and an instrumental with a great groove and top notch playing by all hands. Other standout moments include Rhoda’s original, “Half Moon Bay” and the splendid Ricky Woodard playing on “Secret Love”. But there really isn’t a dull moment anywhere on this disc. More than forty-six years ago, Rhoda Scott recorded a live album. It was with her original trio and it was recorded at the Key Club for Prestige/Tru-Sound. The album has been out of print for many years but one listen to it would convince you that you are hearing great talent. Many years later here we are with another live trio album and the lady generates just as much audience enthusiasm. This just goes to show that it doesn’t matter whether it is a New York concert hall or a small night club in Newark. It could be in France, it could be in California. If you want to hear the best jazz organist out there, just go wherever Rhoda Scott is playing. BOB PORTER JOF