Photo by Stephen Poff

Cleveland Eaton – Chi-town Theme from the Black Jazz 45

Good midweek to the FMF family. I’ve got some good news. I was in contact with Dan from The Budos Band, who is excited to be the Special Guest at the next 45 Sessions on March 28th. The guy has some deep crates, and I for one am excited to listen to some great sides. I’d like to shout out Sean over at The Offside Rules, who will be accompanying me to opening night of the New York Red Bulls on April 5th. ESC 101 represent. Today we’re gonna visit Chicago (Home of the Fire, grrr) via Birmingham, AL. Here’s Cleveland Eaton with “Chi-town Theme” on Black Jazz Records.

Cleveland Eaton was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1940. He began studying music at age 5, and mastered the trumpet, saxophone, and piano. He, however, would go on to be known for being one of the best bass players in the Jazz game. After moving to Chicago, he would start a career as an arranger, composer, and arranger as well as a musician. Ramsey Lewis recruited him and Eaton would play on some of the Ramsey Lewis Trio’s greatest records. “Wade In the Water” and “Hang On Sloopy”. ( I always dug “The Sungoddess” but that’s neither here nor there). In all, Cleveland would perform on no more than thirty recordings by the Groover himself, earning four Gold records in the process. Eaton was inducted into the Jazz Hall of Fame in 1979 and also joined The Count Basie Orchestra around the same time. Playing for such record labels as Gamble, Miracle, Ovation, and Black Jazz, Eaton embraced the Jazz Fusion movement during his career and released Jazz Funk and Fusion records, all with a certain funky flair to them. This particular side was released on the Black Jazz Label. This is a label I’ve spoken about before, and how difficult it is to come by these records in my area, let alone a 45. Black Jazz was founded by Jazz pianist Gene Russell in Oakland, CA in the early 70’s as an alternative to traditional Jazz. Black Jazz kept a roster of artists that played Free Form Jazz, Jazz Funk, and Soul Jazz. Artists like Doug Carn, Calvin Keyes, Walter Bishop, Jr., Kelle Patterson, and the Awakening among others filled the roster up. Russell would die in 1976, halting record production of and the distribution of Black Jazz Records. It remained dormant until 1986 until James Hardge began reissuing the label’s discography and keeping the Black Jazz tradition alive and kicking. Throughout the digging community there has been a resurgence of interest in original Black Jazz records. I urge you to pick up any one of them if you see them out in the field.

Cleveland Eaton has really laid it down on this track. Sounding more like a Blaxploitation soundtrack than anything, “Chi-town Theme” could easily have fit in Willie Dynamite or any other pimped out B movie involving Cadillacs, feather caps, and side zip leather boots. Never really leaving his Jazz roots, but rather using his expertise to adapt and grow with the music of the period, Eaton is right on point. The chorus of women singing the chorus of Chi-town Theme add a nice 70’s touch to it. Eaton has continued to push the boundaries of music and is still active as a professional music today. I’ll be back Friday with another treat. Until then, Keep Diggin’!