** 2026 stock ** The Skipper is where Henry “Skipper” Franklin turns his reputation as a trusted bassist into a full, unmistakable artistic statement. Born in Los Angeles in 1940 and already seasoned by work with figures like Hugh Masekela – including the 1968 hit “Grazing in the Grass” and a slot at the Monterey Pop Festival – Franklin entered the 1970s as a player whose feel and sound bandleaders relied on instinctively. In 1972, Black Jazz Records gave him the helm for his debut album, and the nickname “The Skipper” suddenly felt literal: here was the bassist as captain, guiding a band through expansive, groove‑rich charts where the low end carries the narrative.
The Skipper sits firmly in the jazz‑funk corner of the label’s catalogue, blending modal jazz openness with lean, driving rhythms. The record comprises six tracks: “Outbreak,” “Plastic Creek Stomp,” “Theme for JoJo,” “Beauty and the Electric Tub,” “Little Miss Laurie” and the title tune “The Skipper.” Running from just over three minutes to more than twelve, each piece has room to stretch, yet the arrangements remain focused, with clearly shaped themes and plenty of space carved out for soloists over Franklin’s electric bass and electric upright bass lines.
The personnel list reveals a compact but potent ensemble. Franklin leads on Fender electric bass and electric upright bass, his lines thick and singing, equally comfortable laying down ostinatos or walking with supple swing. Drummer Mike Carvin provides the rhythmic backbone, bringing both jazz sensitivity and funk snap to the kit. Bill Henderson (credited with the Zulu name Umoya Kemang Sunduza) handles electric piano and contributes composition on the closer “The Skipper,” his keys moving between shimmering chords and more percussive, groove‑locking figures. Kenny Climax adds guitar, including the “Electric Tub” textures central to the lengthy “Beauty and the Electric Tub.” Together, they form a band that feels simultaneously loose and tightly synchronized, a hallmark of the Black Jazz aesthetic.
