Right on Brother

Jazz guitarist Ivan ‘Boogaloo Joe’ Jones recorded a series of righteously funky soul-jazz albums for the Prestige label in the early 70s as well as appearing as sideman on albums from fellow Prestige players like Rusty Bryant, Richard ‘Groove’ Holmes, Willis Jackson and Houston Person. 1970’s Right On features many Prestige players too including Bryant on sax, Charles Earland on organ and Bernard Purdie on drums. It’s an album that is right at the intersection of 60’s derived soul-jazz and a more funk-driven sound, a transitional musical moment and illustrative of the crossover between soul, funk and jazz at the time. The title track sets up a clattering New Orleans drum beat with a choppy bassline and then simply allows Jones, Bryant and Earland to either solo or comp for each other, a successful pattern repeated across the rest of the album. It’s overflowing with exuberant energy, Jones is a formidable guitarist, his sidemen are confident and this is a superbly played album that showcases a transitional moment in soul-jazz.