Friday, March 03, 2017

NEW RELEASES: FREDDIE HUBBARD - BACKLASH; PHIL FRANCE – THE SWIMMER; CHICO MANN / CAPTAIN PLANET – NIGHT VISIONS

FREDDIE HUBBARD - BACKLASH

One of Freddie Hubbard's greatest records – a soaring bit of soulful modernism that's almost a precursor to 70s sounds on record labels like Black Jazz or Strata East! Freddie's at his early best here – stepping aside from some of the more serious Blue Note modes, and definitely feeling himself more strongly – reaching out with this righteous vibe that's quite different than later electric work in the 60s – and which, quite honestly, almost comes through best on this record than anywhere else! The group are wonderful too – and James Spaulding turns in some killer flute and alto work for the date – perfect for Freddie's lines on trumpet. Titles include "Backlash", "The Return Of The Prodigal Son", "Little Sunflower", and "On The Que Tee". (SHM-CD pressing!)  ~ Dusty Groove

PHIL FRANCE – THE SWIMMER

Beautiful keyboard lines from Phil France – served up here in a mode that's partly jazz, maybe partly more laidback – and often in the kind of slow-building style we love on other records on the Gondwana label! There's almost a meditative vibe to the music – somewhere in the Carlos Nino/Miguel Atwood-Ferguson mode, but maybe more compact – as Phil's keyboards are mixed with light use of violin and cello, plus some additional sound elements as well – all in a way that makes us almost think that France would be great at scoring soundtracks, although these instrumental tunes have a nicely changed-up sense of complexity overall. Much deeper than just the usual "soundscape" album you might mistake this one for – with tracks that include "December", "Animator", "London Park Hotel", "Kubrick", "Joy Of Brass", and "The Swimmer".  ~ Dusty Groove

CHICO MANN / CAPTAIN PLANET – NIGHT VISIONS

One of the most tuneful albums we've ever heard from Chico Mann – and a set that moves into much more song-based territory than some of his earlier work! The style here is a unique hybrid of beats, breaks, and Latin – almost in a mode that could crack a larger global market, if the right forces were in place – with very catchy Spanish-language songs that are perfect for the dancefloor! There's echoes of more mainstream modes in the approach, but the overall presentation is as hip as you'd expect from Chico and Captain Planet – on titles that include "Can't Let Go", "Somos Candela", "Oye Bien", "Como Me Miras", "La Oscuridad", "Cuentos De Anoche", and a remake of Manu Dibango's "New Bell". ~ Dusty Groove


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