Nothing secret about The Sunburst Band – they're a group we've loved for years – and one that we love to rave about on these pages! This album's a tremendous effort – one that proves that our faith in the group has never let us down – and that they're one of the few acts that keep on burning with a serious fire and never-ending sense of soul! Joey Negro keeps things in a classic dancefloor mode throughout – lots of warm 70s club elements and funky soul undercurrents – all handled with just the right sort of vintage instrumentation and jazzy inflections that make these guys equally-trusted contemporaries of Incognito – yet even more disco-oriented too. And this time around, there's some great vocalists on board to really help keep the proceedings at a partyful level – Angela Johnson, Noelle Scaggs, Diane Charlemagne, Pete Simpson, Donna Gardier, and others – all singers who help spice things up between instrumental grooves. Titles include "My Way", "In The Thick Of It", "Jazz The DMX", "Caught In The Moment", "Educated Funk", "Trust Me", "Love One Another", "Easy Come Easy Go", "The Secret Life Of Us", and "Why Wait For Tomorrow".~ Dusty Groove
GETATCHEW MEKURIA & THE EX - Y'ANBESSAW TEZETA
A brilliant meeting of talents – legendary Ethiopian
saxophonist Getatchew Mekuria, and the ever-amazing Ex – paired together in a
set of work that's even better than their previous collaboration! This time
around, it The Ex feel even more like an Ethio-inspired group – often serving up
spare but complicated rhythm patterns that are a perfect fit for Mekuria's tenor
– letting him really stretch out in the lead, and direct most of the energy of
the music with a tone and sense of timing that are soulful in ways that go
beyond expectations! Titles include "Aha Gedawo", "Ambassel", "Tezeta", "Bati",
"Ene Eskemot Derese", and "Zerafewa/Eregedawo" – and package also features a
full bonus CD, with live material by The Ex with Mekuria and the ICP Orchestra!
~ Dusty Groove
AKIRA SAKATA & CHIKAMOCHIRA - CHIKAMOCHIRA SORA WO TOBU
Bold sounds from reedman Akira Sakata – easily one of the
most powerful saxophonists on the planet at the moment! The set features Akira
stretching out in a series of long improvisations – with a shifting lineup that
includes Jim O'Rourke on guitar, Yosuke Yamashita on piano, Darin Gray on bass,
and Chris Corsano on drums – used in different combinations on the album's five
extended tracks! Titles include "Five Elephants In A Beetle", "After 40 Years",
"Flying Chikamorachi", "Kaguya Hime Standing On Her Head", and "Arekore
Shitsaki". ~ Dusty Groove
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