Preach Brother! - Don Wilkerson (1LP Vinyl) [Classic Vinyl Series]

Preach Brother! by Don Wilkerson.

There are records that swing, and then there are records that testify. "Preach Brother!" by Don Wilkerson belongs firmly to the latter camp, a set that carries the fervor of the church into the smoky domain of the jazz club. Originally released on Blue Note Records in 1962, this is soul jazz with its collar loosened and its spirit lifted, the kind of album that earns its exclamation point.

Wilkerson's tenor sets the tone from the very first groove. The A side opens with "Jeanie-Weenie" before easing into the low-down ache of "Homesick Blues," then rouses the congregation with "Dem Tambourines," a title that tells you exactly where this music draws its power. Flip to the B side and the sermon continues through "Camp Meetin'," the strutting "The Eldorado Shuffle," and the closing "Pigeon Peas," a run of tunes that keeps one foot in the sanctuary and the other on the dance floor.

This 2022 reissue treats that original spirit with the reverence it deserves. Mastered from the original analog tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, it captures the warmth and immediacy of Wilkerson's playing without a hint of digital fussiness. Gray's reputation among audiophiles is well earned, and here his hands guide the music from tape to lacquer with a clarity that lets every reed-bite and rhythmic push land as intended.

Pressed on 180 gram vinyl and made in Germany, the record has the heft and quiet surfaces that serious listeners look for. The runouts are etched, a small detail that collectors appreciate, and the whole package arrives with a plain white poly-lined inner sleeve to keep the disc protected. The hype sticker on the front proudly announces the pedigree: audiophile vinyl reissues from the finest in jazz since 1939, mastered from the original analog tapes.

Blue Note has always understood that great jazz deserves great presentation, and this release honors that tradition. It carries the "A Blue Note Records release" credit alongside the 2022 copyright from UMG Holdings Inc., a modern chapter in the long life of a classic recording that has lost none of its conviction over the decades.

For collectors chasing the soul jazz corner of the Blue Note catalog, "Preach Brother!" is an essential stop. It is joyful, it is grounded, and it is played with a sincerity that never wavers. Drop the needle, let Wilkerson take the pulpit, and hear why this music still gets the room moving. It is a reissue built to be played loud and played often.

Pressing Details:
Comes with a plain white poly-lined inner sleeve.

From back cover:
"A Blue Note Records release; Originally released in 1962 on Blue Note Records © 2022 UMG Holdings Inc.
Made in the EU.
LP mastering: Kevin Gray, Cohearent Audio"

From hype sticker on front:
"AUDIOPHILE VINYL REISSUES
FROM THE FINEST IN JAZZ SINCE 1939
MASTERED FROM
THE ORIGINAL ANALOG TAPES
By
KEVIN GRAY at Cohearent Audio

180 GRAM VINYL

From sticker on back:
"Made in Germany"

Runouts are etched.

Track Listing:
A1. Jeanie-Weenie
A2. Homesick Blues
A3. Dem Tambourines
B1. Camp Meetin'
B2. The Eldorado Shuffle
B3. Pigeon Peas

Artist: Don Wilkerson

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Blue Note

Catalog Number: 4535287

Series: Classic Vinyl Series

Release Year: 2022

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)