Gene Ammons – Jug Eyes from the Prestige Records 45

Good Morning to you all. The weather this weekend was, let’s say a bit wet. If you were anywhere on the East Coast then you know what I’m talking about. Monsoonlike conditions were not conducive to do any digging. However, I did do some other digging, and added a new member to the Flea Market Funk Family. Say hello to the FMF Digging mobile, a Volvo 240 Wagon. I’ll be picking it up next week, and hopefully will be filling it with vinyl shortly thereafter. Before I go on, I’d like to shout out a few people. Number one, drummer Joe Tomino from Dub Trio. He is a maniac on the drums, and it was indeed a pleasure to open up for those cats. Also, in less than two weeks I will be taking over the airwaves at 91.7 WLFR (my old stomping grounds) on Devil Dick’s Forward to the Caves radio show. Like Hova, it’s the big takeover, so don’t miss it! Ok, here we go with another sure shot. I got this from a set sale straight out of the Pacific Northwest. Let’s check out Gene Ammons with “Jug Eyes” on Prestige Records from 1970.

Gene Ammons, nickname “Jug” was the son of piano great Albert Ammons. At age 18 he would join up with King Kolax’s band, go on the road, and then go on to work with the likes of Woody Herman and Billy Eckstine. His relationship with Sonny Stitt, was tulmoltuous at the least. He would go back and forth with him as a duo partner, nemesis, and fellow Jazz musician throughout his career. He is a founding father of the Soul Jazz movement, one that would pair his tenor saxophone with the Hammond B-3, and interpret the R & B songs of the day. I am thankful for that entire movement. He is also a founder of the Chicago School of tenor saxophone along with Von Freeman. His presence in the be bop movement made an impression in that class of players in that time period. He has released sides on Prestige, Savoy, and Original Jazz Classics. Ammons was no stranger with run ins with the law. He served a few prison sentences, most notably a long stretch from 1962-1969. His emergence from jail would give him a new found funkiness, and this side is a great example of it. He would die of terminal cancer at the young age of 49 in 1974. Another great of our time taken too early.

This record would of course pair him with the now Soul Jazz and Jazz Funk greats. The bass of Ron Carter and the drums of Idris Muhammad bless this side. Let’s not forget the guitar of George Freeman (of Groove Merchant Records fame) in this session. Whatver went on in his prison years made Ammons come out with a vengence. A vengence for hard hitting funky Jazz. On this particular record, he has pushed aside the experimental electric saxophone, and stayed to the acoustic, keeping great time as Carter, Muhammad and company get tight in the pocket. This is another great example and excellent piece of music from 1970. Although Ammons would only be on this earth for another 4 years, this side is etched in Jazz Funk forever. Keep Diggin’!