Keith Jarrett in his best old school mode – peforming
solo piano improvisations, at a level that takes us back to his groundbreaking
Koln Concert album of the 70s! The material here is from a recent Jarrett tour
– one of the first in many years in the improvisational mode (and maybe one of
the last, given the energy needed to sustain the creative brilliance – and
features material from 2014 performances in Tokyo, Rome, and Paris – all
shorter selections than some of the freewheeling album-length jams Jarrett's
youth, but no less captivating overall! There's an introspective quality to the
music that makes a great change – a moody vibe that's similar to the Paris
album from the previous decade – and the quality of the performance is superb
throughout, and still represents our favorite side of Jarrett's many
talents. ~ Dusty Groove
EL MICHAELS AFFAIR – SOUNDING OUT THE CITY
Easily one of the greatest new funk records of the
21st Century – and a set that goes way beyond some of the cliches that are
currently gripping others in the deep funk underground! El Michels Affair have
a cool, easygoing style to their music – one that's as much 70s jazz as it is
60s funk – and which makes for tunes that have a looser structure overall,
which allows much more room for instrumental interplay, and the kind of sweet
surprises that make the album so great! These guys have a real penchant for an
unusual rhythm and interesting instrumental flair – and they borrow as much from
70s soundtracks and Latin albums as they do from the funky 45 era that clearly
gave them their start. Totally fresh all the way through, and a record that
delights us a lot more than we might have expected! Titles include
"Detroit Twice", "El Pueblo Unido", "Behind The Blue
Curtains", "Ocho Rios", "Hung Up On My Baby",
"This Song's For You", and "Slide Show". 2CD set also
features the excellent Loose Change record – recorded around the sessions for
their Sounding Out The City album, and appearing here for the first time ever!
The set shows an even richer vibe than on that classic album – great little
funky moments that really have El Michels stepping way past their
contemporaries – to a point where so few other funk groups have touched, even a
decade later! The set's got five great instrumentals, all awash in that hip
blend of sweet soul, funky rhythms, and harder edges the group pioneered – plus
a vocal track from Lee Fields too! Titles include "A Little Sloppy (full
version)", "Kiddy Ditty", "Little House",
"Yennicita (alt)", "This Song's For You (alt)", and
"By The Time I Get To Phoenix". ~ Dusty Groove
MONOPHONICS – SOUND OF SINNING
Heavy funk, but with a definite psychedelic twist – as
you might guess from the image on the cover! The Monophonics have strong
qualities that tie them back to 60s soul – including the kind of tight rhythms,
funky currents, and even soulful vocals you'd find on vintage singles – but
they're also not afraid to layer in a fuzzy guitar, too – which really trips
things out nicely, and may well make them one of the headiest combos in the
funky underground today! There's currents here that echo material by Connie
Price & The Keystones, or El Michels Affair – but what sets these guys
apart from both is their honest, earnest approach to the music, especially the
lyrics – which are often delivered with the heartfelt quality of a vintage Stax
Records single. Titles include "Promises", "Falling Apart",
"La La La Love Me", "Hanging On", "Strange Love",
"Too Long", "Find My Way Back Home", and "Lying
Eyes". ~ Dusty Groove
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