Bluesy jazz guys

[jazzboCR]

Mostly sax players who traveled between Blues, jazz and R&B but mostly brought that soulful edge.

Starting with Lou Donaldson: Wiki and Discog as leader-- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Donaldson and http://www.allmusic.com/artist/lou-donal...iscography << been a leader for 60+ years and innumerable side gigs
Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNR7822K_40 << Some good albums available on YT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85Uv0pCvvSI << The tune he's prolly best known for
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPUFCWZZ30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrRnZECLr1Y << How soul-deep is "Ode to Billie Jo"?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMllN21FPms
BONUS: Full Album https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYRrNOD36Q4 << THE soul-jazz CD to get--sums all that's good about this sub-genre--you'll not find better players

[jazzboCR]

The best of modern guitarists, playing modern jazz with a bluesy feeling--with Melvin Sparks (q.v.), he's a prime progenitor of "acid jazz". Grant Green. Ill for awhile and dead of a heart attack at 44.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Green His Discog: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/grant-gre...iscography << Look at all those prime pieces! Only 1 "money gig"--time and it's rethinking has been kinder than the critics when issued. The place to start with him is: http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-cl...0000576906 but this package is a steal of a deal: http://www.amazon.com/7-Classic-Albums-G...rant+green For him in a straight-ahead setting: http://www.amazon.com/Grant-Green-Comple...rant+green

Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP1iyEUyHeI << pre-"acid jazz"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLBTSrD42QY << What he came to be known for
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMuyV5jSKl4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvthzbBFCmE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnk3dLXnHiY
___________________________________________________________---
The following mat'l. added 2 July '15:
Like everybody, he had to start somewhere and serve an apprenticeship. Here's Ron Weinstock's blog entry on a newly-issued CD that captures an early performance: http://inabluemood.blogspot.com/2012/11/...in-st.html << Keep in mind he was not the star--he was part of a soul jazz group.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=40&v=3hKr94ahdkE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3x4bPCYdO4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfX3gElIK58

[jazzboCR]

Now here's a polarizing artist, 'cuz he traveled so many roads--utterly commercial to hard bop. My advice--find an era, an aspect of him and stay with that. Donald Byrd. His Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Byrd << near-60 year recording career--the short list is who he did NOT record with or for. His Discog: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/donald-by...iscography << Only a couple of mutts and some few were jazz re-defining. The place to start, natch, is compilations and he has some good ones, both particularized (Jazz Lab sessions, e.g.), and more General Purpose. An obit/appreciation: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/12/arts/m...at-80.html

Some tunes (going long with Mr. Byrd):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2KvM2T40RQ << A warhorse, yes, but what a heart-wrenching take
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB9Z-OQTSfs << The funkmeisters loved him for stuff like this...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzd1wcRfRD8 << ...Even if it did put the purists/snobs in a swivet...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzmJDBthQ0g << ...they shouldn't have been surprised--this is from '63
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nU1PyzEVPdg << Always a strong promoter of voices in jazz...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFDm_BxcXbM <<...even had his own vocal group, the Blackbyrds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxK9kC836IE << Not that he ever turned his back on what brung him to the party...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bovferybdb8 << Lovely take on this classic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lTAn5eFBsk << Came back to this near the end of his career
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DLpYKqX-Gw << Namesake tune

BONUS: a pretty good comp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrpLqMF75Zw

[jazzboCR]

Funky as all get-out but a jazzman to the bone. Melvin Sparks. By 18 he was a veteran "road warrior" and became an ace session man during the soul-jazz years. His individual recordings weren't appreciated enough thus small pressings thus higher prices now--That "Legends of Acid Jazz" is the comp to get. Good-enough Bio and solid Discog here: http://www.allmusic.com/artist/melvin-sp.../biography and http://www.allmusic.com/artist/melvin-sp...iscography This'n's good for his Discog as sideman: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melvin_Sparks

Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-B6dt0hXZY4 << Love shown worldwide by the commenters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeumNVfFHdk << Some find the funk riddim in soul-jazz much the same. I agree...and focus on what rides the rhythm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOvxhwqYMXk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpqoNBitlQQ << He covered some of the best soul of the era << Special Impact: I was with such a woman. Still love you, Barbara Judith.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33GSvPPz4Oo << This AWB classic is not often covered

BONUS: A 2-hour show in Trenton, NJ.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPNe2oq-Qd4 << An OMG! moment--I was at this show. TTN got some really good folks on off-days--1 hour from Philly; 1-1/2 hour easy train ride/Turnpike cruise from NYC--a great place to live in those days.

[jazzboCR]

Another one of those "the shorter list is who he didn't play with" guys. Houston Person. Such tone, such blending in with a situation but letting his presence be known in his time. His Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Person AMG's Discog--near 50 years of excellence): http://www.allmusic.com/artist/houston-p...iscography << Wiki lists the sideman gigs--every one a wnner. Long time association with singer Etta Jones (Lordy, didn't they just do some soulful stuff together !).

Some tunes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ikl8pnHz6k << Does he use some familiar phrasings strung together? Yes. Is it thus cliched? NEVER! That's what separates the merely very good from the class-leaders/pace-setters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWWLcxU3Fy8 << Recorded in '08 in Rudy Van Gelder's newly revivified studio. Oh happy day! (q.v. on RVG). Empathic backing from a basically unknown group of players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Glw5TMDQM << Lovely take on this classic on a club date.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OBOcNYmceo << I sometimes feel this way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOJUslUHgQY << An example with Ms. Jones

SEMI-BONUS: Long album cut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp_sK7pPyhY