What makes Where It's At! by Charles Kynard notable?

The album is notable for its fusion of jazz and gospel elements, contributing to the development of soul jazz during the early 1960s. It received positive critical attention, paving the way for Kynard's future works and influencing other musicians in the genre. Released in 1963, Where It's At! was Charles Kynard's debut album, positioning him as an emerging voice in the jazz scene. This album marked a significant entry point into his career, showcasing his skill as an organist and composer at a time when jazz was evolving rapidly.

How many songs are on Where It's At!?

Where It's At! has 10 tracks, running approximately 36 minutes.

Where It's At!

Charles Kynard · 1963

36 min · 10 tracks

A vibrant blend of jazz and gospel inflected with soulful organ grooves and rhythmic improvisation.

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Top tracks — play these first

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I'll Fly Away — This track opens the album with a lively interpretation of the traditional hymn, blending spiritual themes with a jazz sensibility that sets the tone for the record.
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Motherless Child — Kynard's rendition transforms this folk spiritual into a soulful exploration, highlighting both emotional depth and his improvisational prowess on the organ.
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Where It's At — The title track encapsulates Kynard's signature style, combining catchy melodies with intricate rhythms that exemplify the spirit of soul jazz.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

64 /100

Treeline

Higher than 79% of albums we've rated

The album effectively blends jazz and gospel elements, showcasing Kynard's organ skills and improvisational style.

What we noticed

The album opens with a traditional gospel hymn, setting a spiritual tone that is maintained through soulful organ melodies.
Tracks often feature extended improvisation sections, allowing the musicians to explore themes and motifs in depth.
Several tracks incorporate call-and-response patterns typical of gospel music, enhancing the communal feel of the performances.
The final track shifts to a more upbeat tempo, providing a contrast to the reflective nature of earlier songs.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 I'll Fly Away 3:37
2 Amazing Grace 2:42
3 Motherless Child 2:37
4 The Lord Will Make a Way Somehow 4:47
5 I Want to Be Ready 2:20
6 Smooth Sailing 3:12
7 I Wonder 5:13
8 Blue Greens and Beans 3:24
9 Sports Lament 5:03
10 Where It's At 3:45

What to play next

Listen next

Warm Winds

1964

Full Charles Kynard discography Artists like Charles Kynard

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata