You might not know their names but you’ll surely have heard ‘em play out – guitar maestro ARLEN ROTH and bass supremo JERRY JEMMOTT . They’ve been in the business for over 50 years and have played countless sessions with everyone and anyone with “The Groovemaster” Jemmott picking up a Grammy en route.
Recently the duo came together to explore their mutual love and respect for classic soul and blues and decided to lay down some tracks. Thus with keyboardists Bruce Katz & Alex Salzman, rhythm guitarist Tom Gage, drummer Chris Parker and The Uptown Horns they went into a New Yorks studio to cut some of their favourite tunes and those sessions have now been released in one concise album package aptly titled ‘Super Soul Session!’
Soul fans will be familiar with almost all of the repertoire but here old favourites are given new, enthusiastic settings and though the recording took place in New York, the vibe is definitly Memphis or Muscle Shoals.
The album is a 13 tracker – seven instrumentals and six vocals. The biggest sound is an instrumental version of ‘Dancing In The Street’ which is offered as a tribute to James Jamerson. Three of the other instrumentals are tunes associated with Aretha Franklin – ‘Chain Of Fools’, ‘The Weight’ and ‘Sweet Sweet Sweet Baby Since You Been Gone’. Maybe wise that they didn’t add vocals – who could ever emulate “The Queen”?
The vocals on the album, by the way, are handled by Joe Louis Walker and African vocalist Mukamuri and they do a great job on oldies like Sam Cooke’s ‘Shake’, B B King’s ‘The Thrill Is Gone, Dobie Gray’s ‘Drift Away’ , Jackie Wilson’s ‘Higher And Higher’ and Alvin Robinson’s ‘Down Home Girl’ .
There’s also a take on King Curtis’ ‘Memphis Soul Stew’ while the album ends with ‘America The Beautiful’ – Roth and Jemmott’s version being based on Ray Charles’ 1972 recording.
Don’t expect anything groundbreaking here. This ‘Super Soul Session’ was simply meant to be an honest saunter down Memory Lane and it’s certainly that. It’s out now via Blue Heart Records.
