ALate Late Party: 1965–1967 is a compilation featuring R&B saxophonist Charles “Packy” Axton, a Memphis musician who prior to the time of these recordings was a member of the Mar-Keys. By itself, his fiery playing on the opening track, “Holiday Cheer,” can have the same salutary effect on you as it did on me—but it doesn’t hurt that the rhythm section smokes, which tells you something important about Late Late Party.
