In the early '70s, Oakland, California-based pianist Gene Russell launched his own Black Jazz Records label to help promote Black musicians with a focus on politically and socially minded jazz, soul, and funk sounds. Russell had scored a hit several years prior with his ebullient trio album Up and Away, playing jazz versions of contemporary pop tunes. He built upon this aesthetic with Black Jazz Records, releasing a handful of funky and expansive albums that gained a cult following. Among his own releases for the label was 1973's Talk to My Lady. An earthy soul-jazz date, it showcased Russell on piano and organ alongside his adept small group featuring bassist Henry Franklin, drummer Ndugu, guitarist Calvin Keys, and conga player Charles Weaver. The set opens with several Russell originals, including the glowing spiritual jazz title track and the acoustic funk groover "Get Down." Then we get a slow-jam reading of the Billy Paul hit "Me and Mrs. Jones" and a bright, Latin-tinged take on Stevie Wonder's "You Are the Sunshine of My Life." Equally mood-setting vibes pop up throughout the album as Russell sinks softly into the afterglow ballad "For Heaven's Sake" and masterfully builds harmonic tension on the wickedly slow "Blues Suite." There's also a rambling and expansive rendition of "My Favorite Things" that takes inspiration from the classic 1961 John Coltrane version and a wry album-ending version of "If You Could See Me Now" featuring Russell's spoken lover-man take on the lyrics. As with many of the Black Jazz releases, Talk to My Lady is a perfect balance between romantic dinner-club ambiance and hip counterculture attitude. ~ Matt Collar, Rovi

1		Talk to My Lady
2		Get Down
3		Me and Mrs. Jones
4		For Heaven's Sake
5		You Are the Sunshine of My Life
6		Blues Suite
7		My Favorite Things
8		If You Could See Me Now

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