Hank Crawford & The Marty Paich Orchestra « Soul Of The Ballad » Mobile Fidelity - MFSL 1-224 Limited Edition, 200 gram half-speed mastered number 1370

With an unmistakable blues wail, full of emotion and poignancy, altoist bridges the gap between that tradition and that of jazz more completely than any other living horn player. Born in Memphis, was steeped in the blues tradition from an early age. He began playing piano but switched to alto when his father brought one home from the army. He claims his early influences as, and hung out with, and in high school. -From AllMusic.com

Upon graduating, played in bands fronted by and at Memphis' Palace Theater and Club Paradise. In 1958 went to college in Nashville where he met. Hired originally as a baritone saxophonist. Switched to alto in 1959 and remained with' band - becoming its musical director - until 1963. The phrasing and voicings he learned there proved invaluable to him as the hallmark of his own sound. He also wrote and arranged a tune for.

The cut, "Sherry", his first for the band, was put on the album. Cut a slew solo albums for Atlantic while with the band, and when he formed his group, he remained with the label until 1970. He signed with's Kudu in 1971 and cut a series of fusion-y groove jazz dates through 1982. In 1983 he moved to Milestone and returned to form as a premier arranger, soloist, and composer, writing for small bands - that included guitarist, organist, and as well as large. Has been constantly active since then, as a leader and sideman, recording the best music of his long career.