4th Cekcion -

4th Cekcion was an American brass-rock band from Bellaire, Texas, that released a self-titled album on local-press Solar Records in 1970.

Members: Greg Isaacs (vocals, keyboards), Stewart Rojo (guitar), Mike St. Clair (bass), Louie Broussard (percussion), Richard Cantu (woodwinds), Gary Weldon (brass)

Background

4th Cekcion formed in Bellaire when brass player Gary Weldon and reedist Richard Cantu joined a rock band with guitarist Stewart Rojo, bassist Mike St. Clair, drummer Louie Broussard, and singer/keyboardist Greg Isaacs. They performed at dances and parties on the Texas college circuit.

1970: 4th Cekcion

Signed to Solar Records, a local small-press that mostly issued singles, 4th Cekcion released their singular, self-titled album in 1970. It features seven Isaacs originals, including the brassy soul-rocker “Changeable Woman,” the jaunty harmony cut “How I Feel,” and the velocity organ driver “Find Yourself Another Way.” The album was produced by Houston-based music entrepreneur Fred Carroll.

“Changeable Woman” (4:07): Organ/brass fanfare intro. Verse: thick Hammond chords (5-6-7-6 in D). Soaring vocals, bending guitar licks, elongated, rising vowels on chorus line “I’m not a changeable maaaan.” Coda: persistent, falling bassline over rough Hammond fugue (in A minor).
“Find Yourself Another Way” (6:44): Bare, gruff, fret-bending figure heralds locomotive rhythmic pattern. Rapidfire mono-key bassline (in A) with cascading Hammond and rising brass. Midway: crying, lyrical guitar solo. Later: running, trebly organ solo with spiraling descents and hammered 3rds. (Similar to Brian Auger’s Oblivion.)
“I Don’t Have to Hide My Face Anymore” (4:27): Circular guitar figure over rising brass and shifting bassline (1-3-4-6 in A minor). (Proto-funk arrangement echoes UK brass-rockers Trifle.)
“How I Feel” (4:08): Tom/kickdrum speedrolls… adopts music hall arrangement at :49 with jaunty 2/4 precision. Trumpet solo over harmonized bridge. False ending; somber flute/bass coda. Chicago-like (“Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?,” “Wake Up Sunshine“).
“Without You Girl Blues (South of Chicago)” (4:47): Lighter music hall/lounge-jazz arrangement (in somber F/C minor). The singer idealizes romantic times with a woman he barely knows. Fluid trumpet, walking bassline, light piano keys.

Later Activity

Cantu later played in Eureka, the backing band of singer/songwriter Richard Torrance. Broussard surfaced a decade later in jazz-funksters the Paul English Group.

Discography: