Search - Jazz Crusaders :: Old Socks New Shoes New Socks Old Shoes (Reis)

Their best album

Eric V. Moye | New York, by way of Dallas | 07/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Back in the day, they were the Jazz Crusaders. Then, I suppose, to broaden their appeal, they became the Crusaders. Call them what you wish, but this was among the best music they ever made.Joe Sample, Wilton Felder, Wayne Henderson and Stix Hooper made some bold, brassy music. The Crusaders were dominated by a strong horn section, which not only led way out in front, but also provided gentle smooth harmonies.Old Socks/New Shoes has a fine mix: their renditions of classic works like "Golden Slumbers", "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Thank You". They also put down their own signature tracks, like the classic "Way Back Home". Wonderful jazz, regardless of the name."

New Socks?Old Shoes?Who Cares:This Is Great!

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 05/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cal them Jazz Crusaders,Crusaders or whatever when Joe,Wilton,Wayne and Stix get together you can certainly do no wrong and this is no exception to the rule.As is typical of the time covers of Sly Stone and Tony Joe White ("Rainy Night In Georgia") and Wilton's sax free-for-all in the middle of Sly's "Thank You".The band also take their own approch to The Beatles "Golden Slumbers" (it includes the "Carry That Weight" part too).Generally speaking though this album finds the Jazz Crusaders beginning to move into a funkier direction but the leaning is still very much towards soul jazz;look to the Ramsey Lewis Trio's Another Voyage for reference to such a sound. The originals also showcase another wonderful quality that would benifit the band greatly when they became The Crusaders a year later:the idea of a strong connective thread between musicians outside the acoustic jazz context.Today people such as...well Wynton Marsalais have claimed that with electric instruments it is not as easy for musicians to listen to each other and improvise well. Obviously The Crusaders never came to mind in that train of thought because they were one of the bands that were able to counter that commonly held opinion;their amazing chemistry is actually enhanced by the electric and groove oriented sound that they were forging here."