The Mean Machine is an album by American jazz organist Jimmy McGriff recorded in 1976 and released on the Groove Merchant label.Payne, D. Jimmy McGriff Discography, accessed April 16, 2018Jazzlists: Groove Merchant Records 3300 Series, accessed April 16, 2018Jazzlists: Album details, accessed April 16, 2018
Reception
Allmusic's Jason Ankeny said: "Ironically enough, Mean Machine captures Jimmy McGriff at his sweetest. Employing electric piano as much as his signature organ, its grooves are disappointingly tepid, favoring a CTI-inspired smooth jazz approach at odds with McGriff's essential funkiness. Brad Baker's lush arrangements are largely to blame here, evoking the sound but not the kinetic energy of blaxploitation cinema".
Track listing "It Feels So Nice (Do It Again)" (Brad Baker, Lance Quinn) − 6:04 "The Mean Machine" (Baker, Joe Thomas) − 5:54 "Please Don't Take Me Out" (Baker) − 6:05 "Get Back' (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) − 5:30 "Overweight Shark Bait" (Robert Kriener) − 4:41 "Pogo's Stick" (Quinn) − 5:55
Personnel Jimmy McGriff – electric piano, clavinet, synthesizer, arranger Joe Thomas – tenor saxophone, flute John Frosk, Alan Rubin − trumpet Tom Malone − trombone Lewis Del Gatto − baritone saxophone Pat Rebillot − keyboards Lance Quinn − guitar, arranger Cornell Dupree, Jerry Friedman − guitar Bob Babbitt − electric bass Jerry Marotta, Rick Marotta − drums Carlos Martin − congas Jimmy Maelen − percussion Tony Posk, John Pinntaville, Norman Carr, Harold Kohan, Rick Santhomme, Leo Kahn, Fred Buldrini, Alvin Rogers − violin Julien Barber, Richard Maximoff − viola Jesse Levy, Richard Locker − cello Brad Baker − arranger, conductor
References