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Hard Work/Carnival *

John Handy
1 disc

1. Hard Work
2. Blues For Louis Jordan
3. Young Enough To Dream
4. Love For Brother Jack
5. Didn't I Tell You
6. Afro Wiggle
7. You Don't Know
8. Carnival
9. Alvina
10. Watch Your Money Go
11. I Will Leave You
12. Love's Rejoicing
13. Make Her Mine
14. All the Things You Are
15. Christina's Little Song
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 2780949
Credits

Producer
Engineer
Recording information: A&R Recording Studios, New York, NY (01/1976); ABC Recording Studios, Los Angeles (01/1976); A&R Recording Studios, New York, NY (1976-1977); ABC Recording Studios, Los Angeles (1976-1977).
Originally released separately on Impulse, this two-fer combines saxophonist John Handy's 1976 release Hard Work and Carnival, which came out the following year. These dates find Handy branching out from modern jazz and combining lite jazz with smooth R&B. "Hard Work" became a radio hit and the remaining tracks -- all original Handy compositions -- will appeal to fans of smooth jazz. Carnival is a bit more festive. The title cut has traces of the traditional melody associated with Sonny Rollins "Don't Stop the Carnival," but like the previous set, Carnival is mainly smooth jazz with synthesizers. The only cover version recorded for these dates is "All the Things You Are," a duet with Reginald Burke on acoustic piano and Handy on alto. This two-fer offers very pleasant background music, but those expecting to hear Handy in a post-bop setting should skip this one. The music has been remastered and, while there are no bonus tracks or new liner notes, Impulse had the good taste to restore the original packaging: front and back cover art and liner notes. ~ Al Campbell