If you’re familiar with the jam band community at all, there’s a good to fair chance that you’ve heard of Merl Saunders, as he often sometimes played keyboard with the Jerry Garcia Band throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Saunders cofounded the short-lived band Legion of Mary with Jerry Garcia and Martin Fierro in 1974. Saunders has also made a bunch of other music in jazz, funk, soul, and other genres. I have never listened to any of his solo stuff outside of Jerry Garcia Band recordings, so I’m excited to give this one a listen. With that said, I’m going to jump on into the music.
“Aunt Monk” starts out with some super funky electric clavinet sound and some equally funky guitar work that drips into the soundscape. Oh wow, this is sweet, and reminds me a ton of some of Stevie Wonder’s recordings around the time. Oh wow, the clavinet almost sounds like there’s a wah pedal on it too. Holy smokes, now there’s what sounds to be an alto sax in the mix that’s really digging into this track. Dang, this is one funky track. Great tune and now I’m super excited for the rest of the album.
“It’s Cheaper To Keep Her” starts out with an almost bebop club feel between the chill flute and groovy bongos combined with the walking bass line. Oh wow, now Saunders is in with his organs, which sort of remind me of Jimmy Smith in the current soundscape. The more traditional western drum kit keeps the swing going in the tune. Oh wow, the guitar is in and really builds on the jam that the tune’s been grooving on quite nicely. This is one groovy tune. Great track.
“Wondering Why” begins with a super meditative sound at the beginning with some light gong strikes or possibly a Tibetan singing bowl of sorts. Oh the soundscape is super sweet, with some little accentuations by a jazz guitar on occasions, some delicate flute playing, a tasty bass line that keeps moving the tune moving along, some chimes and effects in the background that induce a meditative state, flavorful additions from Saunders on keyboard that add to the soundscape nicely, some super sweet orchestral strings in the background, and some really pleasant vocals that again induce that meditative sound in the track. Great tune.
“Easy Evil” is has a super tasty jazz funk jam sound at the beginning, which seems to carry on the meditative state induced in the previous track as the band grooves along in a super chill and groovy way. In some ways it does remind me a lot of some of the stuff that Merl played with the Jerry Garcia Band. Oh wow the groove picks up really nicely just before the tune fades out. Great track.
“Bolinas Brown” starts out with a super interesting syncopated percussion section filled with different instruments to lay down a strange yet intriguing beat, which is soon joined by Saunders on some strangely swirling piano as the soundscape gets a bit ominous just before dropping into a super tasty resolving groove. Holy smokes, the swishing guitar lines and the tasty keyboard grooves complement each other super well. Oh wow, I really dig the bass line, which keeps the tune progressing forward while the other instruments jam off of it. Oh wow, the sax really goes in and further fleshes out the jam. Holy smokes, now it’s Saunders’ turn with the lead, and the tune is rolling full steam ahead. Great tune.
“Ain’t No Woman Like The One I’ve Got” has a super light, nearly caressing feeling in the sweet soundscape. Oh wow, the guitar really just drips into the soundscape with a really nice clean tone. Holy smokes, Saunders’ keys are so high in pitch that they’re nearly like chimes in the soundscape, while the flute really adds to the lightness of the tune, and the drums and bass keeps that nice and steady groove going. Really sweet tune.
“When I Die” seems to carry forth that caressing feeling from the previous track in this one, with a whole lot more weight in this one. Oh wow, there’s a ton of some great funk soul sound in this tune between the swirling organs and the guitar that has a super groovy effect that almost makes it sound like a shooting star, while the saxophone really takes the jam out there, the congas adding some super flavorful accentuations, and the drums and bass keeping everything swinging really nicely. Great track.
“Righteousness” has a super groovy funk jam soundscape nearly immediately with the band all going in on this song, each taking turns with some different funky lines to add to the jam. I really dig the fat, bouncy tone from the bass in this one, which really keeps the soundscape grooving forward, while Saunders takes the tune pretty far out with the clavinet, after which the band sort of feels out the different directions they might take the soundscape as the guitar, bass, congas, and drums gradually comes back to a super tasty groove. Oh wow, the band keeps on giving in this track. Holy smokes, Saunders really goes in on the track during the outro just before everything fades out. Great track and super tasty way to finish the album.
Wow, this is one sweet album. There are a ton of funk, jazz, and soul jams buried throughout, all in different combinations with one another depending on the track. I’m glad I finally checked out some of Merl Saunders’ solo stuff. Saunders passed away in 2008, but he left behind a ton of music that the world can still enjoy. If you dig jam band music at all, or enjoy super groovy combinations of funk, soul, and jazz music, you might want to consider checking out this album. I’m already looking into getting it on vinyl. If you do give this album a listen, I sincerely do hope that you enjoy the listening experience at least as much as I did.
-A