Doug Carn - 1974 - Adam's Apple

Doug Carn

1974

Adam's Apple

01. Chant 4:59
02. Higher Ground 5:03
03. Sweet Season 3:56
04. Sanctuary 7:31
05. Mighty Mighty 5:59
06. The Messenger 4:12
07. Adam's Apple 3:32
08. To A Wild Rose 3:34
09. Western Sunrise 5:03

Acoustic Bass – Gerald Brown
Bass [Fender] – Darrel Clayborn
Congas, Bongos, Percussion – Big Black
Drums – Harold Mason
Guitar – Calvin Keys, Nathan Page
Leader, Keyboards, Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Synthesizer [Moog] – Doug Carn
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Ronnie Laws
Trombone – Thurman Green
Vocals – Doug Carn, John Conner, Joyce Greene

The last album in a legendary run of music from keyboardist Doug Carn – his final album for the Black Jazz label, and a set that pushes even farther than his previous efforts! Jean Carn isn't in the group this time around, but the set does feature a totally great twin-vocal approach – with singing by Joyce Green and John Conner, blending their voices together in a style that's right up there with the most righteous 70s jazz experiments by Horace Silver or Billy Gault! This vocal balance really brings a new sort of power to Carn's music – furthering the righteous spirit of earlier years with a hell of a lot of energy – also aided by great instrumental work from Ronnie Laws on tenor and soprano sax, Thurman Green on trombone, Calvin Keys and Nathan Page on guitars, and Big Black on percussion. 

Doug Carn’s fourth and final album for Black Jazz ‘Adams Apple’ from 1974 is a much funkier and upbeat record. It still retains the deep spiritual jazz theme but is expressed more joyously with ‘Chant’, ‘Higher Ground’ and ‘Sweet Season’ being the most uptempo tracks. His organ playing is more evident throughout especially on the instrumental ‘The Messenger’.

There is an early Earth Wind and Fire influence (he played with them) and a frantic cover of ‘Mighty Mighty’. ‘Western Sunrise’ is a beautiful track to close the set on. Joyce Greene and John Conner replace Jean as the vocalist, and the band includes Ronnie Laws, Calvin Keys and Big Black.