Album of the Day

Atlantic Records' Tom Dowd was mastering a Modern Jazz Quartet album when Ray Charles overheard some of it and remarked that the band's Milt Jackson has “got soul.” That the admiration was mutual resulted in the 1958 album SOUL BROTHERS, the first of two collaborations between the performers. In spite of the title, the music leans more toward jazz than R&B, but the smooth and relaxing sounds here are just as effective as Brother Ray's more raucous hits. The chemistry between the two is strong on these half-dozen tracks, and both prove versatile instrumentalists - keyboardist Charles blows a mean alto saxophone on "Soul Brothers” and vibraphonist Jackson lights up the frets on “Bag's Guitar Blues.” An unusual but satisfying entry in two stellar discographies, SOUL BROTHERS has just been released on vinyl in honor of Black Music Month.