Helena, Arkansas-born tenor saxophonist James "Red" Holloway came to the attention of Prestige Records through longtime Chicago cohort Jack McDuff and quickly carved a distinctive niche for himself on the company's soul-jazz roster. A big-toned blower with solid grounding in the blues, Holloway was surrounded by some heavyweight sidemen on the two albums reissued herein--his first and fourth for the label. Acid-jazz legends Big John Patton and Eric Gale are heard on 1963's aptly titled The Burner. The awesome George Benson sparks 1965's Red Soul, which also features Dr. Lonnie Smith on five selections and Holloway playing some lovely bop-tinged alto on one.

with George Benson, Hobart Dotson, Bobby Durham, Eric Gale, Leonard Gaskin, Herbie Lovelle, Ray Lucas, John Patton, Chuck Rainey, Frank Severino, Norman Simmons, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and others