Track Listing

1. Cleo's Mood
2. Ain't That the Truth
3. Do the Boomerang
4. Mark Anthony Speaks
5. Shotgun
6. There It Is
7. Satan's Blues
8. Hewbie Steps Out
9. Pucker Up, Buttercup
10. Tally-Ho
11. What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)
12. (I'm A) Roadrunner

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #79428 in Music
• Released on: 2006-10-03
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
It's not as though wide-ranging avant-garde jazz clarinetist Don Byron hasn't pulled a rock tribute out of his trick bag before: His 1998 album, Nu Blaxploitation, resurrected songs by '70s funk-rock band Mandrill. Still, this tribute to Junior Walker, the Motown singer and saxist best known for his 1965 hit, "Shotgun," comes as a surprise--as does Byron's decision to play tenor saxophone on all but two tracks. A full-scale, supercharged, organ-wailing production featuring Chris Thomas King and Dean Bowman on lead vocals ("Shotgun" is sung by the latter), Do the Boomerang was built for pleasure. While it lacks the raw, earthy essence of vintage Junior--with his smaller tenor sound, Byron hangs back much of the time--the fullness, energy and tightness of the music make up for that. And while King's bow to James Brown on the hard funk tune, "There It Is," seems out out place, it's good hearing forgotten songs like the instrumental, "Mark Anthony Speaks," alongside familiar faves like "Pucker Up Buttercup." --Lloyd Sachs

Customer Reviews

Fans of soul-jazz and old-school R&B should enjoy it
Clarinetist and saxophonist Don Byron's eccentricity is well known in the jazz community as he has recorded tributes to musicians of different genres like klezmer artist Mickey Katz and jazz legends Lester Young and Duke Ellington. Add to that list R&B saxophonist Junior Walker, who was active in the Motown scene in the 1960's and 70's. On this album, Byron appropriately concentrates on tenor saxophone and is joined by David Gilmore on guitar, George Colligan on organ, Brad Jones on bass, Rodney Holmes on drums, Curtis Fowlkes trombone and Dean Bowman and Chris Thomas King on vocals. The music on this CD recalls the glory days of rhythm and blues, keeping the songs short and solos to the point. The band works well as a team, with solos being spread generously amongst group members.

"Mark Anthony Speaks" has some great soul-jazz guitar from Gilmore and greasy Jimmy Smith style organ, and the uproarious "Shotgun" has some bootin' tenor saxophone and very cool funky vocals, as does "Pucker Up, Buttercup" which covers the poppy end of the Walker spectrum with swirling organ and swinging vocals. "There It Is" is a little out of place, being a James Brown cover, Brown and Walker were both pillars of soul music, but their approaches were quite different. While the focus is primarily on uptempo numbers, "What Does It Take" does slow things a little bit to a slow simmering pace, and "Satan's Blues" is a slow, grinding number that gets down and dirty. While I'd really like to hear more original music from Byron and fewer tributes, there's no denying that this disc is a lot of fun and fans of soul-jazz and old-school R&B should enjoy it. The cover art is really cool too, I wish this was available on vinyl...

Dance Cabaret
Great pick, Don!

During the 60's, the legendary Jr. Walker and his All Stars band was the undisputed King of dance parties, singer sax player band leader showman song writer hit-maker live performer. His signature whinnying sax intros mellowed as he segued into the 70's writing instrumental classics. The man packed a whole lot of punch into a short life.

'Do The Boomerang' is a well-blended concert of totally danceable smooth jazz with a sultry edge that showcases the music Jr. Walker [as Autry DeWalt Jr.] wrote and made famous. Don Byron's playing and improvisations on tenor sax, clarinet, bass clarinet are consistently terrific. Jazz vocalists Dean Bowman and Chris Thomas King take over and take off with Jr. Walker's vocals, leaving Don free to take off instrumentally and paint his own pictures where Jr. Walker never trod. Likewise for the guitar and trombone members of the band. Hints of rock organ and tambourine keep those great dance beats authentic thruout. The the crew and production are A-OK. Check out the clips!

he's a soul man
this recording is just what it is: the music of junior walker. by don byron on tenor sax on all tracks except when he plays clarinet and bass clarinet on two other tracks. lots of organ and guitar and heavy bass and drums summon from the past funky rhythm and blues, not quite as drenched in funk as the old school originals, but not bad for a visitor. yes, you can dance to these tunes, and there are vocals.

as for jazz? i was thinking of ornette coleman and his origins of funky soul music before he went jazz and jazz classical.