On the Case

In honor of MLK Jr. day, I wanted to share a great and under-appreciated album by the SCLC Operation Breadbasket Orchestra. This was the second of 2 lp's on Chess featuring a large ensemble including studio heavies Ben Branch, Gene Barge, Wayne Bennett and Phil Upchurch - there's even a credit for Donny Hathaway on keys... The sound is mostly mid-tempo simmering gospel jazz arrangements of traditional spirituals - makes me feel uplifted and melancholy at the same time. Favorite track: Nobody Knows.