Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette (born September 11,
1933 - 1971)
was a hard bop and soul-jazz musician most known for playing
Hammond organ. He made a brief but indelible mark on the sound of soul jazz in
the early sixties. He recorded two albums for Blue Note in 1961, and two more
for Argo, which capture a gospel-tinged sound which has influenced the
contemporary generation of jazz and funk organists.
Roosevelt Willette was born on September 11, 1933, probably
in New Orleans. Willette's father was a minister at a church in Little Rock,
Arkansas, and his mother was a missionary, so the boy was exposed to the sounds
of the black church from an early age.
Willette learned to play piano from his uncle, Fred Freeman,
and began to tour as an accompanist for gospel groups while in his teens. He
then switched to rhythm-and-blues, and crisscrossed the United States, as well
as Cuba and Canada, with groups led by King Kolax, Jay McNeely and others. He
earned the nickname "Babyface" while touring because of his youth:
sometimes had trouble getting into nightclubs where he was to perform.
Around 1958, Willette settled in Chicago, where he took up
the organ as his primary instrument and began to focus on jazz. By 1960, he was
in New York, where he met guitarist Grant Green and tenor saxophonist Lou Donaldson,
both artists on the Blue Note label at that time. Soon he too was signed to
Blue Note Records.
As was Blue Note's policy at the time, Willette first
recorded for the label as a sideman, appearing on Green's Grant's First Stand
and Donaldson's Here 'Tis. Willette made his first recording for the label as a
leader, Face To Face, in 1961. The album boasts an enviable lineup of Willette
on organ, Green on guitar, Fred Jackson on tenor sax, and Ben Dixon on drums.
Willette composed most of the tunes on the album. While the songs are
pedestrian, the interplay between the musicians is quite incredible and,
although it's not commonly thought of as his best work, it is a great album.
Willette's next album, Stop and Listen, is generally
considered to be his best recorded work, and features a stripped down sound
with a trio of Willette, Green and Dixon.
Willette formed his own trio in 1963, and recorded his next
two albums for the Chess Records subsidiary Argo. The first of these, Mo-Roc,
was recorded in the same trio format as his last album for Blue Note and
featured Willette, guitarist Ben White, and drummer Eugene Bass. Though not as
well-known nor accomplished as Willette's Blue Note trio, the band swings and
turns in a competent enough performance behind Willette, whose compositions for
the album are forgettable but feature excellent playing.
Willette's next album for Argo, Behind The 8-Ball, was
Willette's last for the label and his last as a leader. Featuring a trio with
White on guitar and Jerold Donovan on drums, the album gives listeners a closer
taste at Willette's roots than his more jazz-oriented albums. For the first
time, Willette features more R&B covers than originals, and also shortens
the length of the songs. His playing shows more of a soulful, churchy feel than
his other albums and Willette shines brightly here, as the choice of songs
seems to make him more comfortable.
After his two albums for Argo, failing health forced a
return to Chicago, where his family resided. Willette faded from the jazz scene
but played a steady gig at a southside lounge from 1966 until the year of his
death. He died April 1, 1971.
He was survived by a son, Kevin D. Bailey. (www.jazz.com)
3 comments:
For “Baby Face Willette - Stop and Listen (1961)” go here:
http://www41.zippyshare.com/v/PNl3N37E/file.html
1. Willow Weep For Me
2. Chances Are Few
3. Jumpin' Jupiter
4. Stop And Listen
5. At Last
6. Soul Walk
7. Work Song
8. They Can't Take That Away From Me
Baby Face Willette (org) Grant Green (g) Ben Dixon (d)
For “Baby Face Willette” - Face to Face (1961)” go here:
http://www95.zippyshare.com/v/Qn5gccyQ/file.html
1. Swingin' At Sugar Ray's
2. Goin' Down
3. Whatever Lola Wants
4. Face To Face
5. Somethin' Strange
6. High 'N Low
7. Face To Face (alt take)
8. Somethin' Strange (alt take)
Fred Jackson (ts) Baby Face Willette (org) Grant Green (g) Ben Dixon (d)
For “Baby Face Willette - St. James Infirmary (2014)” go here:
http://www73.zippyshare.com/v/ZW1Wdc7q/file.html
1.St. James Infirmary
2.Song of the Universe
3.Behind the 8 Ball
4.Amen Hot
5.Tacos Joe Hot
6.Roll 'Em Pete
7.Sinnin' Sam
8.Just a Closer Walk Hot
Thanks to egrog @ egrojworld blog for St. James Infirmary original link
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