Search - Joe Carroll :: Man With a Happy Sound

Oo Bop 'O Roonio ! ! !

Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 12/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Its a hot steamy (or maybe frigid cold) New York evening circa 1961. After catching a set at the village, you've just decided to take the A-Train up town to see what's going on. Just as you get out, you hear what seems to be the sounds of a blaring Hammond organ eminating from what must be a million Leslie speakers... you follow it (almost four blocks) to some after hours club. Even from out on the curb you can feel the bass as the bouncer checks you out,opening the doors to the club when suddenly it hits you in the face... the most jumping joint in the world. Drinks are flowing... there's barely a seat at the bar and almost instantly you're shoved onto the dance floor. You look up to see a young, sweaty Joe Carroll (who might as well be Louis Jordan) singing Bluest Blues...From the opening track its clear that the organist is most likely a madly pedal stomping Wild Bill Davis masqueraing as Specs Williams. (I deeply apologize to Specs or in that case possibly Milt Buckner if I'm wrong.) Featuring a young Grant Green, Connie Lester on Sax and Lee Ausley on drums, the album has a very live feel. You can feel the house rocking energy (and sometimes sheer exhaustion) from track to track which is why I like it. - - Joe Carroll shows himelf not only to be a great Jazz and Blues singer, but a killer entertainer ("