Eternal Journey - The Arrangements And Productions of Charles Stepney

Seeing no future for himself in music, Chicago native Charles Stepney was about to unload his vibraphone when Phil Wright, a Chess label producer who had caught him playing with Eddie Harris, called him into a studio session. Encouraged to stick around, Stepney kept the vibes and obliged. The classically trained, part-autodidactic musician played on other Chess dates, was hired as a copyist, then became an in-house arranger and producer -- often writing material and playing the vibes, piano, synthesizer, and other instruments including melodica -- and diversified further as an A&R man. Titled after a piece he co-wrote and produced for close friend Ramsey Lewis, Eternal Journey spotlights his 1967-1973 work for Chess and the related Checker, Cadet, and Cadet Concept imprints. Its a contender for the most necessary volume in Ace Records Producer Series, spotlighting Stepney as a crucial background figure behind some of the most inventive and advanced Black music of the era, spanning gospel, the blues, folk, jazz, soul, and rock. On top of that, with respect to the string players on many of these songs, "Step put some funk in they butts," as the Dells Chuck Barksdale put it. While lacking some of Stepneys most visionary recordings from the period -- the Dells "Stay in My Corner," the Rotary Connections "I Am the Black Gold of the Sun," and Terry Calliers "Dancing Girl" are crown jewels of recorded sound -- Eternal Journey offers an adequate introduction while filling some gaps for collectors. In addition to other spellbinding songs from the aforementioned artists, virtually every selection is noteworthy. Ramsey Lewis version of the Beatles "Dear Prudence," introduced with Stepneys Moog synthesizer FX, works an unstoppable groove and achieves flight with what sounds like a massive string section. Marlena Shaw shone brightest on "California Soul," the funkiest and most joyous take on the Ashford & Simpson composition. "Les Fleurs," written by Stepney and Richard Rudolph for Rotary Connection breakout star slash demigod Minnie Riperton, is a towering ballad showcasing Stepneys masterful string, brass, and vocal arrangements as much as the singers five-octave range. Also contained is some of the most gnashing, trippiest, and polarizing business ever laid down by Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf. During the years covered here, Stepney also continued his longstanding association with Eddie Harris and helped conceptualize Earth, Wind & Fire with Maurice White, eventually contributing -- uncredited, as he was moonlighting -- to the bands third album, Last Days and Time. After Chess shuttered, Stepney worked more closely than ever with White, assisting in EW&Fs four multi-platinum 1974-1976 albums, plus Ramsey Lewis concurrent dates, the Emotions Flowers, and Deniece Williams This Is Niecy. He died of a heart attack while working on EW&Fs Spirit. Over time, Stepneys name became increasingly known through sample-savvy hip-hop producers and likewise younger generations of radio and club DJs and musicians. In the early 2020s, Stepneys daughters and the International Anthem label assembled Step on Step, a revelatory compilation of Stepneys home recordings, and held celebrations in honor of their fathers legacy. Additionally, his music continues to spread through licensing for film and television. "Les Fleurs" might even be overplayed, but once that first chorus begins its tidal approach, you might as well accept your fate and let the chills wash over you once more. ~ Andy Kellman