Love Bug

1969年録音、オルガン奏者のルーベン・ウィルソンによるブルーノートの2枚目のアルバム。トランペットのリー・モーガン、テナーサックスのジョージ・コールマン、ギターのグラント・グリーン、ドラムのレオ・モリス(別名:イドリス・ムハマド)という豪華なクインテットが参加!

1969年のソウル・ジャズ・デートでは、「Hot Rod」、「Back Out」、タイトル曲などのファンキーなウィルソンのオリジナル曲と、「I'm Gonna Make You Love Me」、「I Say A Little Prayer」、「Hold On, I'm Comin'」などの当時のR&Bヒット曲を演奏。

【パーソネル】Reuben Wilson (organ) Lee Morgan (trumpet) George Coleman (tenor sax) Grant Green (guitar) Leo Morris (drums)

Love Bug was an attempt to establish Reuben Wilson as an organist with either the vision of Larry Young or the fiery style of John Patton, and while it comes up short on both accounts, it nevertheless remains quite enjoyable. Working with an impressive backing band of guitarist Grant Green, trumpeter Lee Morgan, tenor saxophonist George Coleman, and drummer Idris Muhammad, Wilson leads his band through a number of soul-jazz workouts, none of which ever really catch fire. Instead of working tight, funky grooves, the quintet tends to spiral off into vaguely experimental territory, which loses sight of the spirit of the song. Still, Green has a number of shining moments, as does Morgan and Coleman -- in fact, they tend to overshadow Wilson, who nevertheless turns in a fine performance. Nevertheless, there are flashes on Love Bug, particularly on "Hot Rod" and the bonus track "Hold on, I'm Comin'," that demonstrate the organist coming into his own. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine