Roll 'em Big John!

This is one of those soul-jazz discs that may be more soul than jazz. It seems more appropriate for the juke joint/dance floor than for the smoky club.

The title track is lively, slinky and very cool from start to finish. It sports an interesting melody that goes through several changes before the main segment. The same is true with “Latona,” a Latin-inspired danceable piece with some pop-style guitar from Grant Green. Patton’s organ is relatively moderate as compared to his other works at the time.

Patton nods to tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley in “The Turnaround,” which definitely has the go-go appeal and belongs in an Austin Powers flick. Patton swirls on the keyboard, which keeps it interesting. The best track in my view is “The Shadow of Your Smile,” which is a very mild bossa; romantic and breezy. Bring out the cocktails and dim the lights for this one. The remaining tracks “Jakey” and “One Step Ahead” are pretty consistent with the rest as far as the groove and commercialism.

What’s really nice about this are Patton’s bandmates, Grant Green (guitar), Bobby Hutcherson (vibes), and Otis Finch (drums). Hutcherson brings real class to the work as a whole, yet doesn’t compromise the necessary soul component. This is perhaps not as interesting as Patton’s other albums, but it’s not a let down. His organ charm is sufficient here, but many of us know so much the better of him.