Junior Mance Harlem Lullaby / I Believe To My Soul

From the Vaults of Atlantic Records (series)

2 LPs on 1 CD: HARLEM LULLABY (1966)/I BELIEVE TO MY SOUL (1966).

Personnel includes: Junior Mance (piano, harpsichord); Hubert Laws (tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Bobby Capers (baritone saxophone); Joe Newman, Jimmy Owens (trumpet); Gene Taylor, Bob Cunnigham, Richard Davis (bass); Alan Dawson, Ray Lucas, Freddie Waits, Bobby Thompson (drums); Ray Barretto (congas).

Originally released on Atlantic (1479) & Atlantic (1496).

Personnel: Junior Mance (piano, harpsichord); Sylvia Shemwell (vocals); Hubert Laws (flute, piccolo, tenor saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman , Frank Wess (tenor saxophone); Haywood Henry, Bobby Capers (baritone saxophone); Jimmy Owens, Joe Newman , Mel Lastie (trumpet); James Tyrell (bass guitar); Alan Dawson , Ray Lucas (drums); Ray Barretto (congas).

Liner Note Author: Orrin Keepnews.

Recording information: 1966.

Director: Gene Orloff.

Illustrator: Bob Fuentes.

Arranger: Junior Mance.

Pianist Junior Mance originally released these albums in 1966 on the Atlantic label; they were then combined in 2000 for the first time on CD by the Collectables label. Harlem Lullaby is a haphazard recording with a revolving-door rhythm section that is marred by Mance's insistence to occasionally utilize a harpsichord instead of piano. By contrast, I Believe to My Soul is a horn-laden affair with Mance sticking to piano; appearances from David "Fathead" Newman, Frank Wess, and Joe Newman also help make this the better date of the two. Neither album is essential, but they will be of interest to collectors of mid-'60s mainstream soul jazz. ~ Al Campbell