Gregory James Edition -

Gregory James Edition was an American jazz-funk trio that released the 1973 album Prophets of Soul on Dakar Records, followed in 1979 with Gonna Grow Some Gold on Kelli-Arts Records.

Members: Gregory Bibb (clarinet, organ, piano, electric piano), James Norris (guitar), Anthony McAllister (drums)

Background

The Gregory James Edition emerged in Chicago, where Gregory Bibb assembled the trio in the early Seventies with guitarist James Norris and drummer Anthony McAllister.

Bibb studied music education and humanities at Chicago Conservatory of Music, then continued graduate work in composition and education at DePaul University. Gregory James Edition entered Brunswick Studio in Chicago with producer and musical director Willie Henderson and recording engineer Craig Barksdale.

Prophets of Soul

Gregory James Edition released their debut album, Prophets of Soul, in October 1973 on Dakar Records.

Prophets of Soul presents instrumental soul-jazz and jazz-funk covers with Bibb on electric piano, clavinet, Farfisa Combo organ, Steinway piano, and clarinet beside Norris’s Gretsch guitar and McAllister’s Ludwig drum kit. The sequence contains three group originals and four covers. Bibb wrote “Brother Marcus” and “Changing Things”; Norris wrote “Grandma Heavy.”

“An’t No Sunshine” drifts through clavinet chatter and Farfisa haze, with roomy pockets shaping an odd, spacious instrumental reading. “Changing Things” swells on piano lifts and controlled key changes over a firm backbeat.

A1. “Brother Marcus” (3:02) – Bibb
A2. “Ain’t No Sunshine” (3:48) – Withers
A3. “Grandma Heavy” (2:20) – Norris
A4. “Shaft” (5:22) – Hayes

B1. “Changing Things” (5:31) – Bibb
B2. “Love and Happiness” (2:48) – Green–Hodges
B3. “Make It Easy on Yourself” (5:28) – Bacharach–David

Gregory James Edition recorded Prophets of Soul at Brunswick Studio in Chicago with producer and musical director Willie Henderson and recording engineer Craig Barksdale. The sleeve image shows the trio beside a gold car on a waterfront road, with small boats behind the group and the Dakar logo at lower right.

Dakar placed “Sunday Lady” on a 1974 mono/stereo promotional single for the DK 4533 catalog. Bibb then served as musical director for Chi-Sound artists Walter Jackson and Gene Chandler, and he played electric piano on Jackson’s 1977 album I Want to Come Back As a Song.

Gonna Grow Some Gold

Gregory James Edition shortened the billing to Gregory James for their second album, Gonna Grow Some Gold, in 1979 on Kelli-Arts Records.

Bibb and Norris frame the album as a studio-band project with singer Colette Skinner, percussionist Moton Hart, guitarist Gerald Sims, bassists Bernard Reed and Steve Palamore, drummers Brian Grice and Morris “Big Foot” Jennings, and horn players Ari Brown, George Hunter, Kevin Jordan, Michael Harris, and William Petties. Terry Fryer programmed ARP 2600, Odyssey, and Poly Moog synthesizers.

“Ayinde” rides a repeating figure into buoyant lift. “Gonna Grow Some Gold” unfolds as an instrumental climb with broad cresting sections. “Get It From the Bottom” simmers in mellow electric-key figures and relaxed rhythm-bed motion. “Dream Lady” floats on softened ensemble singing and light, suspended phrasing.

A1. “Ayinde” (4:38)
A2. “Gonna Make It Easier for You to See” (7:10)
A3. “Happy Baby” (4:05)
A4. “Gonna Grow Some Gold” (6:02)

B1. “Get It From the Bottom” (8:18)
B2. “Dream Lady (Dedicated Gail)” (4:35)
B3. “Tribute to Roots (Thanks Alex)” (4:02)
B4. “Too Late for Love” (7:26)

Gregory James recorded Gonna Grow Some Gold at P.S. Recording Studios under executive producer Carl Davis. Paul Johnson and Paul Serrano served as recording engineers; Scott Rowley held recording and remix engineer credit.

The cover shows two cupped hands filled with coins against a black field, with the album title below the image and the Gregory James name near the bottom edge.

Postlude

Bibb and Norris extended the partnership with Touching Me, a 1984 Gregory Bibb album on Music of Magnificent Mile Records. Norris co-produced the album with Bibb for Decade Productions, and the pair held all song credits. Bibb sang lead on the album, with Theresa Davis on the female vocal for “Touching Me.” Ari Brown played the saxophone solos.

Discography: