The Eddie Fisher Quintet: The Third Cup (1969)

One for the soul-jazz fans.

The AMG get's quite enthusiastic:
"An open letter to the Universal conglomerate: Please, please reissue The Third Cup....this brilliant LP captures Eddie Fisher in a far different light than the blistering funk efforts on which his reputation largely rests, documenting an intimate soul-jazz session that anticipates the shimmering textures and supple rhythms that dominated jazz in the decade to come. Backed by a superlative combo featuring organist Robert Selby, bassist Paul Jackson, and rhythm guitarist Phil Westmoreland, Fisher unfurls a series of hypnotic, silken guitar grooves that employ space and atmosphere to remarkable effect. This is the tightest, most controlled playing of his career."

Dusty Groove, too (but when wouldn't they?):
An amazing album by the great guitarist Eddie Fisher – and completely unlike his later funk records! Eddie plays stripped down jazz with a small combo .... – and the twin-guitar approach creates this super-dope style that's light years ahead of its time, with a sophistication that points the way to later mid 70s work on labels like CTI and Kudu! Eddie's guitar work is an incredible exercise in spareness and soulfulness – best heard on the fantastic "Third Cup", a long drawn-out jazz stepper that's got to be heard to be believed. The cut's been a favorite on the Chicago jazz stepper's scene for years – and it alone is worth the price of the album. However, the record features some other wonderful stuff – like a sublime version of "Shadow Of Your Smile" that runs for a bubbling 12 minutes....  (Dusty Groove)

A nice overview of Fisher's work can be found here: http://codyb3.blogspot.com/2011/02/eddie-fisher.html

"I'm here to pay tribute to the St.Louis-based guitarist Eddie Fisher, who passed away back in 2007, but left a legacy in the jazz, soul, blues, and funk fields. Eddie was born in Arkansas and moved to Memphis when he was 18. He made a name for himself in the Bluff City, securing gigs with Albert King and Solomon Burke. Then he settled and married in St.Louis, where he was a fixture at the Blue Note Club. He cut records for Chess, Stang,and his own Nentu label, while continuing to tour the world. Depite his travels though, he always kept St. Louis in his heart, working on community based music projects there, throughout his career."


The Eddie Fisher Quintet: The Third Cup
Cadet Records ‎(US) LPS 828 / Bellaphon ‎(GER) BJS 4016, 1969

A1 Scorched Earth (Eddie Fisher) 3:06
A2 A Dude Called Zeke (Eddie Fisher) 3:49
A3 Shut Up (Eddie Fisher) 7:02
A4 The Third Cup (Eddie Fisher) 6:07

B1 Two By Two (Oliver Lake) 3:20
B2 Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Be-Do-Da-Day (Cosby, Moy, Wonder) 3:55
B3 The Shadow Of Your Smile (Theme From The Sandpiper) (Mandel, Webster) 11:57

Eddie Fisher (g) Phil Westmoreland (rhythm g) Bobby Selby (org) Paul Jackson (b) Kenny Rice (d)