Genre: jezz
Rating: 2 stars **
Title:  Groovin' with Chubby and Dadd
Company: Illusion / Jazz Forum
Catalog: CM 2038
Year: 1977
Country/State: New York, New York
Grade (cover/record): NM / NM
Comments: still in shrink wrap
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6189
Price: $15.00

I'm not a big jazz fan so I can't say I know a great deal about the late bassist Chubby Jackson. I know he had a lengthy career working as both a sideman for the likes of Louis Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, and Woody Herman, as well as fronting his own bands. So why'd I buy this album? Well I bought it entirely for the label. Illusion (which seems to have acquired distribution rights from the Jazz Forum label), was reputedly a short-lived tax scam label formed by singer/guitarist Mike Pinera.

1978's "Groovin' with Chubby and Dadd" was an unaccredited live show featuring Jackson and a three piece backing band (an anonymous drummer, keyboardist Michael George and lead guitarist Mike Gillis) Sonically the set wasn't all that great; the vocals were occasionally a bit on the muddy side and the general feel was like it was poorly miked. Anyone know who Dadd was ?

- 'Catchy Me' opened the album with a rather pedestrian cocktail jazz segment, but actually got better when Jackson's surprisingly bluesy voice kicked in. Unfortunately he launched in to one of the lamest scat segments I've heard (yeah, I know he was a renown scat singer .... this made you wonder where that fame came from). rating: ** stars
- 'The instrumental Johnny Blues' seemed designed to showcase Jackson's backing band and benefited from some scathing Wes Montgomery styled lead jazz guitar from Mike Gillis. Again, I'm not a big jazz fan, but Gillis was pretty amazing ... rating: ** stars
- The band's cover of Duke Ellington's 'Caravan' started out with quite a bit of energy, but then shifted into a platform for dancer Steve Condece (sp?). Tap dancing simply didn't lend itself well to a record ... rating: * star
- The band's cover of Weldin Irvine's 'Mr. Clean' was surprisingly funky and impressive, though once again Jackson's scat singing was as major source of irritation. Geez, you wish he would have just shut up and focused on bass 'cause the song improved ten fold when he didn't sing. rating: *** stars
- And of course there had to be a Latin medley which apparently referred to the heritage of the writers since none of the eleven minute instrumental medley reflected much of a Latin flavor. rating: ** stars

"Groovin' with Chubby and Dadd" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Catch Me - 5:45
2.) Johnny Blues (instrumental) - 5:00
3.) Caravan (instrumental) (Duke Ellington) - 6:20

(side 2)
1.) Mr. Clean (Weldin Irvine) - 4:00
2.) Latin Medley (instrumental) - 11:40
1.) Triste (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
2.) Wave
3.) Spain (Chick Corea) -

Jackson's daughter JaiJai is the founder of The Jazz Network Worldwide website:
http://www.thejazznetworkworldwide.com/#