Tenor and soprano saxophonist Bill Evans has always been one of jazz's most forward-thinking and prolific musicians; yet, he's also one of its most undervalued. Pursuing contrasting styles and sounds, accompanied by his scorching, soulful technique, Evans has courted jazz-rap (Escape), all- acoustic bop (Starfish and the Moon), and neo-smooth jazz (Touch). With skills honed in the furnaces of Miles Davis's groups and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, Evans has addressed commercial concerns but has also made time to blow mean music and push the boundaries. Soul Insider is a bump- righteous, soul-jazz affair as funky as a Blues Brothers record, but as smooth as silk and cigar smoke. Surrounding himself with a crack band, including guitarist John Scofield, organist Ricky Peterson, percussionist Don Alias, and heroic funk-drummer supreme, Steve Jordan, Soul Insider simmers slowly to the boiling point. It's a rare record where everyone actually grooves like mad in the studio live, and tracks such as "Van's Joint" and "Cool Eddie" pump like Booker T & the MGs injected with NYC grease and gravy. Les McCann adds vocals on "Lose My Number" and "You Sure Look Good to Me," bringing a good-natured glee to the rumpus-room funk. "Cheeks" recalls early David Sanborn or classic King Curtis or Aretha, while "Sneaky" is drenched in a nocturnal urban edge, as is the sweltering "Older Days." Evans blows hot and boisterous throughout, raising high this squirming soul soufflé. --Ken Micallef
Tracklist:
1. Vans Joint
2. Cool Eddie
3. Lose My Number
4. Cheeks
5. You Sure Look Good to Me
6. Big Mama
7. Sneaky
8. Gimme Some
9. Older Days
10. Thump
11. The Shorty Shuffle
2. Cool Eddie
3. Lose My Number
4. Cheeks
5. You Sure Look Good to Me
6. Big Mama
7. Sneaky
8. Gimme Some
9. Older Days
10. Thump
11. The Shorty Shuffle
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