MICHAEL ROSEN – SWEET 17
Guitarist Lage Lund is consistently one of our favorite
contemporary musicians on his instrument – and even though he's not the leader
on this set from tenorist Michael Rosen, his performance really helps shape the
overall sound of the album! Lund's got this way of arching into the groove with
these really wonderful colors – bold sometimes, and as strongly melodic as the
tenor in the lead – sometimes more subtle, but always powerful – in a way that
allows him to fluidly move between frontline space alongside Rosen's tenor and
the trumpet of Ralph Alessi – and more rhythmic progressions in line with
Dominico Sanna on piano, Matt Pennman on bass, and Bill Stewart on drums. Of
course, Rosen's to be credited with the charm of the record, too – as many of
the tracks are his own, and seem perfectly penned to open up this special
musical blend – on titles that include "Sweet 17", "Architextures",
"Fair Weather Ahead", "Hopefully", "39 Belgrave
Square", and "Jacoby's Ladder". ~ Dusty Groove
BEGINNING OF THE END
One of the rarest funky records of all time – the
hard-to-find second album by Beginning Of The End! This West Indian combo hit
it big with their first album on Alston, but this second set, for some strange
reason, never really got distributed – which is a damn shame, because it's
every bit as funky as their first! The uniquely choppy rhythms of the group's
first album are every bit as great here as on the first set – and if anything,
the band's instrumentation is even better, especially on the guitar, which is
wickedly tight, and played with a super-dope flanged-out approach on the solos.
Vocals are great too, maybe even more soulful than before, especially on the
album's few midtempo cuts – and the album's a must-have for any fan of the
group's funky sound! Titles include "That's What I Get", "Super
Woman", "Bluestrain", "Jump In The Water", "Falling
Apart At The Seams", and "Trip To Nowhere". © 1996-2016, Dusty Groove, Inc.
HERBIE HANCOCK - LIVE IN CHICAGO 1977 FEATURING JACK PASTORIUS
Undiscovered funky genius from Herbie Hancock – a live show
recorded in Chicago in 1977 – with a unique performance by a quartet that
features Bennie Maupin on reeds, James Levin on drums, and Jaco Pastorius on
bass! The groove is very much in the best Headhunters mode, but with a more
stripped-down sound overall, given the lineup – and Herbie plays a bank of
keyboards, plus acoustic piano too – as the group make their way through
Hancock classics "Chameleon", "Hang Up Your Hang Us", and
"Maiden Voyage" – plus Maupin's "It Remains To Be
Seen". ~ Dusty Groove.
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