Buddy Terry - 1973 - Lean On Him

Buddy Terry

1973

Lean On Him

01. Lean On Me (Lean On Him) 5:46
02. Holy, Holy, Holy 5:29

03. Climbing Higher Mountains 3:07
04. Amazing Grace 4:42
05. Inner Peace 10:14
06. Precious Lord, Take My Hand 5:36
07. Love Offering 7:24

Bass – Wilbur Bascomb
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Electric Piano, Piano – Larry Willis
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Eddie Henderson
Flute, Saxophone [Soprano, Tenor] – Buddy Terry
Guitar – Jay Berliner
Organ – Ernie Hayes
Percussion – Lawrence Killian
Vocals – Alphonse Mouzon, Dee Dee Bridgewater

Buddy Terry's Lean On Him (1973): A Spirited Jazz-Gospel Mashup That's Heaven-Sent 

Ah, 1973 – the year of Watergate, bell-bottoms at their widest, and apparently, jazz musicians getting religion. Enter Buddy Terry, a solid tenor/soprano saxophonist from Newark with a resume as a sideman for folks like Art Blakey, and his album Lean On Him on Mainstream Records. This isn't your typical hard-bop blowout or funky soul-jazz groover (though it has elements of both). No, Buddy decided to fuse jazz with gospel, turning traditional hymns and spirituals into swinging, improvisational vehicles – complete with a choir that feels like it wandered in from Sunday service. Think of it as Pharoah Sanders meets Mahalia Jackson, but with Bernard Purdie on drums keeping everyone from floating too far into the ether.

The backstory? As liner notes and Terry himself hinted, this was his take on "pop-gospel" trends, but done more authentically: voices like in church, sax stepping in as the "lead singer." It's spiritual jazz with a capital S, but grounded in funky rhythms. And the personnel? Holy moly – this lineup could make a phone book sound groovy, Vocals from a heavenly crew including Dee Dee Bridgewater (pre-diva stardom), Alphonse Mouzon (yes, the fusion drummer sings!), and Sister Elsie "Peaches" Wilson.

It's like Buddy called in every favor from the Newark jazz scene and threw a revival party in the studio.

Track-by-Track Breakdown:

Lean On Me (Lean On Him) (Bill Withers cover, 5:46)

Kicks off with the hit everyone knows, but jazzed up and sped a tad – like Bill Withers after three espressos. Purdie drops some killer breaks midway, and the choir chimes in soulfully. It's fun, but feels a bit like karaoke at first. Humor alert: If you're leaning on anyone here, it's Purdie to save the day from becoming too syrupy.

Holy, Holy, Holy (5:29)

Traditional hymn gets a soulful gospel treatment. Dee Dee Bridgewater's vocals shine, and Purdie opens with a drum break that could wake the saints. Terry's sax wails over organ swells – pure church revival energy. This one's a banger; imagine your grandma clapping along while head-nodding to funk bass.

Climbing Higher Mountains (3:07)

Short and punchy spiritual. Uptempo groove with call-and-response vocals. Feels like a quick sermon interlude – uplifting, but over before you get too comfy. Cute, like a gospel puppy.

Amazing Grace (4:42)

The classic everyone attempts. Terry's flute floats ethereally, backed by gentle percussion and choir. It's beautiful and reflective, avoiding cheese by keeping it jazzy. Touching without being treacly – grace indeed, especially if you've heard bad versions.

Inner Peace (10:14)

The standout epic! This original grooves hard – pure dancefloor jazz-funk with killer rhythm section interplay (Bascomb and Purdie are unstoppable). Terry stretches out on tenor, Henderson adds trumpet fire, and it builds to ecstatic heights. Critics call it a "killer tune," and they're right. If the album has a peak (pun intended), this is it. You'll find inner peace... or at least want to spin it again.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand (5:36)

Another traditional, slow and prayerful. Vocals lead, sax supports tenderly. Emotional depth here – feels sincere, like a late-night testimony. No jokes; this one's for quiet reflection.

Love Offering (7:24)

Closes with Terry's original – mid-tempo groover blending jazz improv and gospel fervor. Solid solos all around, choir building to a joyful close. It's like tithing with tip-top musicianship.

Overall Verdict: Spiritual Funk That Mostly Delivers

Lean On Him is a bold experiment: gospel meets jazz-funk in the early '70s spiritual jazz wave (think Lonnie Liston Smith or Pharoah's Elevation). It's not always "successful" in seamless fusion – some tracks lean (heh) more churchy, others more groovy – but the highs are heavenly. The rhythm section is unbeatable, vocals add authentic soul (shoutout young Dee Dee!), and Terry's arrangements keep it natural rather than forced.

Strengths: Killer grooves (especially "Inner Peace"), top-tier players, and that Sunday revival vibe without preaching. Weaknesses: A touch uneven; the covers can feel safe compared to the originals.

If you dig spiritual jazz, soul-jazz with gospel twists, or just Purdie's drums making everything better, this is a hidden gem. It's reflective yet danceable, complex but accessible – and in 2025, with reissues floating around (check Bandcamp or streaming), it's easier to find than enlightenment.

Rating: 8/10 – Worth leaning on for a spin. Just don't expect it to solve all your problems... unless your problem is needing more funk in your faith. Amen to that!