Workshop Jazz 2004 (B), February 1963

B-side of Late Freight

(Written by Clarence Paul and Dave Hamilton)

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Another slice of vibraphone-led instrumental jazz-blues jamming, except somehow less fun than that sounds.

The B-side for sometime Motown studio guitarist and vibes player Dave Hamilton’s one and only 45 for the Workshop Jazz subsidiary – although as with the rest of the glut of Workshop Jazz singles slated for release by Motown in February 1963, it’s unclear whether any stock copies were actually manufactured, or whether these were all just glorified samplers, pressed up as radio promos to push their parent albums – is more of the same, as featured on the A-side Late Freight: a brooding, ominous intro giving way to a standard, scaled-back blues band track (this time featuring just drums, organ and upright bass), the other musicians ploughing on with grim determination while Hamilton gives us another four minutes of aimless, tuneless, freeform noodling around on the vibraphone (which, I’m assuming, is what makes this “jazz”).

It’s long, boring, goes nowhere, nobody sounds like they’re having any fun (not even Dave himself); it’s dull dull dull and I hate it. Sorry again, jazz aficionados.

MOTOWN JUNKIES VERDICT

(I’ve had MY say, now it’s your turn. Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment, or click the thumbs at the bottom there. Dissent is encouraged!)

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Dave Hamilton “Late Freight”	Johnny Griffith Trio “I’mi See You Later”