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 performers also collaborated on the following year's SOUL MEETING, and this handy two-fer gathers all the recordings they made together. In spite of the titles, the music leans more toward jazz than R&B, and the chemistry between the two men is strong on these 14 predominantly original tracks. 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,” and the two receive stellar support from such virtuosos as bassist Oscar Pettiford and guitarist Kenny Burrell. SOUL BROTHERS/SOUL MEETING is a great way to hear “the Genius” after hours...