Graham Bond Organisation - I Met The Blues At Klooks Kleek

Rough and ready blues from Bond, Bruce & Baker

This live recording from October 1964 has been round the block a few times in recent years, but never as nicely packaged as by Belgian label Music Avenue. The selling point, paradoxically, is the rhythm section. While Bond organs up a storm and saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith is at his brilliant best, it’s the presence of Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker in the engine room that guarantees your interest.

Sound quality is listenable in all but a couple of places, and the verve with which numbers such as Wade In The Water and Big Boss Man are tackled compensates for the fact that Bruce’s bass solo in the latter sounds like it’s played on a rubber band. Cream fans will home in on track eight, Train Time, a Bruce tour de force he took with him to his future employ. Ginger gets his turn in the solo spotlight on Early In The Morning, following up with a propulsive What’d I Say, while the track to avoid is an excruciatingly jokey band introduction.

Digipak presentation and informative sleeve notes make this a more than worthwhile reissue.

Music Avenue | 250175

Reviewed by Michael Heatley
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