Boogaloo is a term with several meanings. Officially, they say, it refers to a type of
dance music born in Spanish Harlem in the 1960s. In some parts of Canada, a
boogaloo is a beat up rust-bucket of a car as in, ‘where did you get that
boogaloo?’ Other frightened types, say the word is the best way to describe
African Americans, or anything they consider dodgy.
Ivan Joe Jones,
was a R&B, blues guitarist whose music lived in the shifting sands that
demarcate jazz from funk. Jones, is
quite a common name and so is Joe. And in music there were quite a few other
players with similar names. Especially, the jazz drummer, Philly Joe Jones. Ivan, was
not so famous but just in case one day he became so, he wanted everyone to
understand that he was not be confused with the other guy. So he inserted the
title ‘Boogaloo’ into his name. Ivan is
what the musical authorities call a journeyman. His music was solid but ‘not
outstanding’. He played with many jazz and R&B greats and made a whole
series of great records in the 60’s and 70’s.
 |
| Ivan Joe 'Boogaloo' Jones |
Now, for me, the term ‘boogaloo’ has always meant fast or
quick. And clearly that is what Ivan brings to the definition, because
he playing is often like quicksilver. Running up and down the neck of his
guitar with single note annunciation second to none. Listen to the fierce but absolutely joyous
playing on You've Got It Bad, Girl to
see what I’m talking about. Stunning stuff. It this is merely solid playing
then even George Benson has to be
considered a journeyman too.
Sweetback is an
album from the mid-1970s . It has all the lush life of that era--soaring saxes,
loungey flutes and strings, ample (but unexpected) covers of big hits (Jamaica Farewell)—as well as, of
course, Ivan Joe’s finger’s boogalooing each song forward. Plump,
sweet and funky! Perfect for any occasion.
Track
Listing:
01 Confusion
02 Trouble In Mind
03 Sweetback
04 Have You Ever Been Mellow
05 Jamaica Farewell
06 You've Got It Bad, Girl
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