The Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series is a reissue program focused on delivering quality music with the best possible listening experience. Highlighting complete original albums from the Jazz Dispensary vaults with a focus on rare or previously unavailable titles, each album is expertly mastered and pressed on 180 Gram audiophile vinyl and housed in a faithfully reproduced old-school tip-on cover. 

• 180 Gram Vinyl pressed at QRP, USA
• First time on 180 Gram Audiophile Vinyl
• Old-school style tip-on cover
• Jazz Dispensary Top Shelf Series Soul Diesel
• Jazz Dispensary "Authorized Dealer" window cling

An unsung monster in the pantheon of exceptional soul-jazz outings from the Prestige catalog, Fire Eater finds Bryant grooving hard in a combo that featured Idris Muhammad on drums, Wilbert Longmire on guitar, and both Bill Mason and Leon Spencer Jr. on organ. Included in this stretched-out, funky set of four originals is the title track, “Fire Eater,” which was sampled for “Swing Set” by Jurassic 5 (2000) and appeared on the 1999 collaboration between DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist, Brainfreeze.

While not as instantly recognizable by name as other greats of the tenor saxophone such as John Coltrane and Sonny Rollins, Bryant’s fiery and athletic approach on this set sets him apart from his peers as a force to be reckoned with. In the strident groove and funky underpinnings of Fire Eater is the blueprint for generations of future groovers and funkateers. Essential.

Musicians:

Rusty Bryant, tenor saxophone
Bill Mason, organ (Side 1)
Leon Spencer, Jr., organ (Side 2)
Wilbert Longmire, guitar
Idris Muhammad, drums

Recorded By Rudy Van Gelder

Track Listing:

Side A
1. Fire Eater
2. Free At Last

Side B
1. The Hooker
2. Mister S.

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫