Biography
Soul-jazz vibraphonist Freddie McCoy never earned critical favor, instead devoting the bulk of his career to laying down coolly funky grooves while interpreting contemporary R&B and pop material or crafting his own similarly accessible originals. Later, however, his recordings turned into sought-after underground artifacts for acid jazz and rare-groove collectors. He began performing alongside Johnny "Hammond" Smith in 1961 before joining Prestige, where he recorded his debut album, Lonely Avenue, in 1963. During the ensuing five years he completed seven LPs for the label, with particular notice going to 1965's Spider Man, 1967's Beans and Greens, and 1968's Listen Here. Most of these sessions included pianist/organist Joanne Brackeen, whose appearances marked some of her earliest recorded work following a temporary retirement to raise her family. McCoy subsequently moved to Cobblestone, a short-lived subsidiary of Buddah, and introduced his association with the imprint via Gimme Some!, a circa-1971 jazz-funk date distinguished by its trippy electric piano textures. Once the label folded, McCoy withdrew from jazz altogether.
Albums
