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ESSENTIAL NEW MUSIC

Essential New Music: Dennis Coffey’s “Hot Coffey In The D”

Guitarist Dennis Coffey was a fixture of the Detroit music scene in the 1960s and 1970s. Boasting a fleet, dexterous sound that used fuzztone, wah-wah and echoplex, Coffey was featured on numerous latter-era Motown recordings as well as lesser labels like Westbound, Sussex and Maverick. He even had his own 1971 hit single, “Scorpio,” a strange instrumental that inspired many imitations. Associated with several producers, label heads and the illustrious Funk Brothers cadre, Coffey was always in demand for sessions. He also enjoyed a residency with the Lyman Woodard Trio at Morey Baker’s Showplace Lounge, performing soul-jazz alongside organist Woodard and drummer Melvin Davis. Recorded live in 1968, Hot Coffey In The D is a document of the trio’s instrumental lounge excursions, playing standards, originals and hits of the day. Including hip versions of “Maiden Voyage” “The Look Of Love” and “Wade In The Water,” this is very tasty Coffey.

—Mitch Myers