Wack Wack

by Young-Holt Unlimited

Overview

Like an amoeba, the Ramsey Lewis Trio split into two virtually identical units in 1966, with bassist Eldee Young and drummer Isaac "Red" Holt forming their own soul-jazz piano trio. Then known as the Young Holt Trio, this may have been the only major trio to feature the bassist and drummer, but not the pianist (!), in the group's name, probably to capitalize on their recently lucrative association with Lewis. In any case, the pianist was Hysear Don Walker, who basically labors in a pleasing Lewis vein on their debut album, which winningly continues the Lewis formula of translating recent pop hit material ("Monday, Monday," "Sunny," "Strangers in the Night," etc.) and a few jazz standards like "Girl Talk" and "Song for My Father" into the Chicago soul piano trio groove. Although Walker can't help but be the dominant melodic and sole harmonic force here, the irrepressible Young nevertheless manages to steal the spotlight whenever he can, with sly pizzicato and arco bass leads, occasional casual vocals, and blithe-spirited scatting (his "You Know That I Love You" amounts to an homage to Slam Stewart). Their first single, "Wack Wack," a number 40 pop hit, is a funny, blues-based riff with the band honking out the title words on cue -- and the flip side of the single, the spiritual "This Little Light of Mine," is an irreverently joyful scatted takeoff. A highly enjoyable debut, worth combing through the bins for. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Product Details

Release Date:	10/03/2000
Label:	Brunswick
UPC:	0646953500725

Tracks

1. You Know That I Love You
2. Yesterday
3. Wack Wack
4. This Little Light of Mine
5. Sunny
6. Strangers in the Night
7. Song for My Father
8. Red Sails in the Sunset
9. Monday, Monday
10. Girl Talk

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Young-Holt Unlimited   Primary Artist
Young-Holt Trio   Primary Artist
Isaac "Redd" Holt   Drums
Eldee Young   Bass,Cello,Vocals,Bass (Acoustic)
Gerald Sims   Director
Hysear Don Walker   Piano
Don Walker   Piano

Technical Credits

Paul Tarnopol   Executive Producer
Sonny Sanders   Arranger
Bobby Hebb   Composer
Isaac "Redd" Holt   Composer
Chris Solberg   Composer
Eldee Young   Arranger,Composer
Carlos Santana   Composer
John Phillips   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Bobby Troup   Composer
Horace Silver   Composer
Neal Hefti   Composer
Young-Holt Trio   Performer
Alan Pasqua   Composer
Alex Ligertwood   Composer
Donald Storball   Composer
Bert Kaempfert   Composer
Eddie Snyder   Composer
Rich Kamerman   Associate Producer
Randy Hudson   Remastering
Hysear Don Walker   Arranger,Composer
Paul Johnson   Composer
Charlie Singleton   Composer
Carl Davis   Producer
Hal Wilson   Art Direction
Traditional   Composer
Paul McCartney   Composer