AOTW: Ben Sidran - The Cat And The Hat (SP-741)

[Captain Bacardi]

Ben Sidran
THE CAT AND THE HAT
A&M/Horizon SP-741

Released in 1979
Format: Vinyl, Cassette, CD

Produced by Mike Mainieri and Ben Sidran for Bulldog Productions, Inc.

Songs:

• 1. Hi-Fly (Randy Weston/Jon Hendricks) 4:58
  2. Ask Me Now (Ben Sidran/Thelonious Monk) 4:08
  3. Like Sonny (John Coltrane) 4:43
  4. Give It To The Kids (Mike Mainieri/Ben Sidran) 4:26
  5. Minority (Ben Sidran/G.G. Gryce) 3:32
  6. Blue Daniel (Ben Sidran/Frank Rosolino) 3:53
  7. Ballin' The Jack (C. Smith/Ben Sidran) 4:25
  8. Girl Talk (Ben Sidran/Neil Hefti/Bobby Troupe) 3:12
  9. Seven Steps To Heaven (Ben Sidran/Victor Feldman/Miles Davis) 4:11

Musicians:
Ben Sidran - Vocals, Acoustic Piano, Yamaha Electric Grand, Fender Rhodes (9), Synthesizers
Mike Mainieri - Vibes, Synthesizers, Fender Rhodes
Steve Gadd - Drums
Abraham Laboriel - Bass
Lee Ritenour - Guitar
Paulinho da Costa - Percussion
Buzzy Feiten - Guitar solo (7)
Michael Brecker - Tenor Sax solos (1, 4, 5)
Joe Henderson - Tenor Sax solo (9)
Tom Harrell - Trumpet solo (6)
Tom Scott - Tenor Sax and Flute
Pete Christlieb - Tenor Sax and Flute
Jim Horn - Baritone Sax and Flute
Dick "Slyde" Hyde - Trombone
Gary Grant - Trumpet
Jerry Hey - Trumpet
Background Vocals: Frank Floyd, Luther Van Dross, Gordon Gordy, Mike Finnegan, Max Gronanthal, Tisha Campbell, Craig Davis, Claude Brooks, Gerard Randell
Synthesizer Programs: Susan Ciani and Ian Underwood

Recorded and Mixed by Al Schmitt
Arranged and Conducted by Mike Mainieri

Recorded at:

• The Sound Labs, Hollywood with Linda Tyler
  Capitol Records, Hollywood with Don Henderson
  Crimson Studios, Santa Monica with Terry Becker and Hank Cicalo
  The Power Station, NYC with The Staff
  Sound Mixers, NYC with William Wittman

Mastered at The Mastering Lab, Hollywood by Mike Reese
Production Assistance: Noel Newbolt and Christine Martin

Art Direction: Roland Young
Album Design: Chuck Beeson
Cover Photo: Barry Feinstein
Inner Sleeve Photo: Bonnie Schiffman

Liner notes by Michael Cuscuna

Ben Sidran's website is, of course, www.bensidran.com.



Capt. Bacardi

 

[Dave]

I had a really neat Ben Sidran album, which was a Live album recorded in Montreux, Switzerland... Sidran had a really neat band, complete with Steve Khan on guitar, Tony Levin on bass and Steve Jordan on drums... And the album ended with a killer version of The Beatles "Come Together"... I forgot what label it was on; maybe it could have been Horizon--I dunno...

I have seen this before (and one time even a "New" copy) so maybe if I'm really into Ben, I oughta try it out... Sidran every now and then, makes a few concert appearances in small venues with his son, as well...


Dave

 

[Captain Bacardi]

This is a bit uneven, but has its moments. This is kind of a jazzy funk effort from singer/songwriter Sidran. He takes some jazz tunes and writes lyrics to them and sets them in this jazz-funk combo, with the cream-of-the-crop LA musicians at his side. I can't say that Sidran's lyrics necessarily match the songs of Coltrane and Monk. He does a nice job on Frank Rosolino's "Daniel", with a nifty trumpet solo by Tom Harrell (although since this is a trombonist's tune, there really should've been a 'bone solo instead). The highlight for me was Sidran's take on "Seven Steps To Heaven", the Miles Davis classic. This song has a terrific groove to it, and Steve Gadd provides a nifty drum/percussion solo towards the end of the song. Overall, I'd give this album ***1/2.


Capt. Bacardi