Gary Chandler (born in 1938) started playing professionally in 1960 in the thriving Columbus Ohio club scene with Hank Marr, Don Patterson and Benny Maupin. He worked in the Motown Revue from 1965-67 and led his own group for over a year. Over the following years Chandler joined joined the bands of Lou Donaldson & Charles Earland where he remained until the recording of his debut album. 

 

Producer Bob Porter, who decided it was time for the skilled trumpeter to make a record in his own right, provided him with an all-star line up of musicians to collaborate on the album. ‘Outlook’ features Idris Muhammad on drums (which means a frenzy of funky JB-influenced over-the-top soul-jazz drumming), on bass is the legendary Gordon Edwards (known for his work with James Brown, Weldon Irvine, Funk Inc., Aretha Franklin, etc.) and on guitar we have Cornell Dupree (you all know his opening riff on the intro of Aretha Franklin’s ‘Respect’).Last but least, we have the percussion duties which are handled by Buddy Caldwell (THE session musician for respected labels such as Prestige and who also collaborated on albums by Ceasar Frazier & Melvin Sparks)… speaking of Ceasar Frazier, he’s also featured on ‘Outlook’ with his trademark organ sound.

 

‘Outlook’ is one long STEAMROLLER groove & one of the true lost soul-jazz-funk classics. Crate diggers and DJs have coveted "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)" for years, but in truth, damn near every second ofthe albumdemands consideration as a sample.All of this is carefully overseen by engineer Rudy Van Gelder & producer Bob Porter (known for their work with Herbie Hancock, Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis…and many others).

 

Gary Chandler’s first (and only) album was originally released in 1972 on Eastbound Records, super rare and fetching large sums on the collectors market, now finally back available as a limited deluxe vinyl edition featuring the original artwork and liner notes.