BILL MASON

Best known for his supporting work on Rusty Bryant's Prestige dates Fire-Eater and Wildfire, Bill Mason proves himself a formidable leader with his lone solo session, the aptly titled jazz-funk outing Gettin' Off. Recorded with the estimable talents of drummer Idris Muhammad and tenorist Hubert Laws, the album's physicality is astounding; Mason is a superbly soulful Hammond organist, conjuring spiraling, spellbinding grooves that seem to grow deeper and more relentless with each successive track. He's also a fine composer with originals like "Mister Jay" and the scorching title cut standing tall alongside covers highlighted by Al Green's immortal "Let's Stay Together." (Gettin' Off was reissued on CD in 1999 as half of a Westbound two-fer with Gary Chandler's Outlook.) from allmusic