The Skipper at Home: Remastered Vinyl LP

Bassist Henry Franklin’s 1972 release for Black Jazz, The Skipper,
is one of the highlights in a label catalog full of many, and his 1974
follow-up, The Skipper at Home (“The Skipper” is Franklin’s nickname),
lives up to its predecessor’s high standard and might even surpass
it. Which is no surprise given that a lot of the same players are on
it, including trumpeter/flugelhornist Oscar Brashear, tenor/soprano
saxophonist Charles Owens, and pianist Bill Henderson (here billed as
Kemang Sunduza). But The Skipper at Home also boasts ace talents like
keyboardist Kirk Lightsey (memorably featured on the Roland Haynes
Black Jazz release 2nd Wave), trombonist Al Hall, Jr. (who appeared
on Black Jazz releases from Doug Carn, Chester Thompson, and
Calvin Keys), and drummer Leon “Ndugu” Chancler, who’s played with
everyone from Miles Davis to Joe Henderson. The result is an album
that, like The Skipper, is rooted in bop but one that nods to some of
the currents that were swirling in jazz at the time; it’s a little freer,
a little more electric. And, as is true of just about every Black Jazz
release, the ensemble work is remarkably intuitive and swinging, driven by
Franklin’s melodic, inventive bass playing. The Skipper at Home has never been reissued on vinyl outside of Japan, and it’s
never sounded better thanks to Mike Milchner’s remastering. Pat Thomas’ liner notes complete the package. A beautiful record.