Flip NuñEz – My Own Time And Space

Description

“Let’s face it, when you get right down to the nitty gritty, either you got it or you don’t. Joseph “Flip” Nunez definitely has it.

His music is not the result of formal training, with it’s numbers, terms and definitions. Flip is big sensitive ears, dues and a lot of soul. This is not to demean those in formal music education. On the contrary, they are to be admired, and are most necessary. Seemingly, though, in some cases the diamond is best left alone. Wes Montgomery and Errol Garner come to mind immediately, and of course my man Flip Nunez. His music education would have to be described as totally osmotic. Just listen and learn!

If you’re a radio person with an opportunity to rap about this album, you could tell the folks that Flip plays piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizer, and does the vocals, and that all the tunes here are his originals. Also this is his debut on records as a leader. As such, he chose to do “See You Later” an exceptionally pretty piece with poignant lyrics and still my favorite among his compositions. I heard it first several years ago recorded by Dave Mackay and Viki Hamilton. On this version I particularly dig Flip’s vocal styling, and Michael Howell’s guitar solo.

Flip’s career has been mainly on the west coast, and particularly in California. He was born in Stockton. From the late forties, through the sixties he worked with various people including T-Bone Walker, Teddy Edwards, Leroy Vinegar, Eric Dolphy, Dave Pike, the Montgomery Brothers, and Jon Hendricks. Recently he was involved as a player and writer with Azteca, the latin-rock jazz group, in addition to his own gigs in and around the San Francisco bay area, where this album was recorded, Tom Rutley is on upright and electric bass, Vince Lateano on drums and percussion, Willie Colon handles congas and bongos, and, as stated earlier, Michael Howell on guitar. Incidentally, that fine alto saxophonist on “This Time for Good” is by none other than the producer himself, Pat Britt, who should be given much credit for providing Flip this long overdue recognition.