“Throughout his career, vibraphonist Johnny Lytle never recorded with a major record label, preferring instead to cut tracks for lesser-known but respected imprints like Riverside Records and others. This may have prevented him from becoming as popular as some of the big names he recorded with Wynton Kelly, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles and Roy Ayers among them but his dedication to following his own creative instincts made the man known as “Fast Hands” an icon amongst true jazz aficionados worldwide.
His 1967 record “Done It Again” captures Lytle at his best, bursting with energy and verve to spare. The bright West Coast-flavored title cut is balanced by tender ballads like “The Nearness of You” and “If I Should Leave You,” all held together by Lytle’s dynamic presence and tight arrangements.
Packaged in a gatefold paste-on mini LP jacket, Lytle’s Done It Again is required listening for any jazz fan, and Get On Down is proud to present this rare and important record for a new generation of listeners to experience and enjoy.”
i make no apologies for dropping the record label press release here as prior to hearing this album i had never heard of johnny lytle, and there is a strong chance neither have you. so rather than try and rewrite the above and pretend i am a man of good taste and knowledge, i thought it best to just lay down all that i have.
basically, done it again is the kind of music you’d hear in the party scene of a 60s movie where vibe man johnny is backed by a finely tuned 60s jazz-funk band providing a range of saturday night party grooves and laid back sunday mornings moods.
a little elevator friendly muzak here, and a lot of funky drums and rocking hammond organ there – what is there to complain about !
also, such a release proves the need for reissue labels like get on down, as without these crate diggers, audio treasures such as this would never get the recognition they deserve, and 40 years after its original release this 36 minute album totally deserves some new love, with or without the swinging party.
more detail : here