“A Little Barefoot Soul” by Bobby Timmons

The first song I want to share is “A Little Barefoot Soul” by Bobby Timmons. It is the lead track from Little Barefoot Soul and features Sam Jones on Bass and Ray Lucas on Drums. It was recorded by the brilliant Rudy Van Gelder at his studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on June 18, 1964.

When I was a child my family lived next door to Chuck Mangione where my mother would sit with Chuck’s wife and together they would eavesdrop on his conversations with Dizzy Gillespie. Jazz was some of the first sounds to reach my ears, and this catchy, almost funky little number instantly pulled me in. After hearing this song, I knew that I would either play the bass or drums and with the Rochester International Jazz Festival recently passed, I thought this track an apt first entry. 
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Not known as a technical player, but one of the prominent figures of “soul jazz” and “hard bob” Bobby Timmons left the music world having penned some memorable numbers including the jazz standards “Moanin” and “Dat Dere”. This Here Is Bobby Timmons is one of my favorite albums and it introduced me to the wonderful drumming of Jimmy Cobb. I hope you enjoy this track and continue to celebrate the understated, soulful and catchy music Bobby Timmons created for us.