NEW RELEASES - AZTECA, KENNY BURRELL, MILT JACKSON / RAY CHARLES

AZTECA - AZTECA

Excellent bit of west coast Latin fusion – featuring an all star band that includes such massive talents as Pete Escovedo, George Muribus, Paul Jackson, Lenny White, Coke Escovedo, and Victor Pantoja. The groove is nice and smooth, with a Bay Area early 70s sound on the production tip – and in a way, the record reminds us of some of the excellent work on Fantasy Records from the time, with touches of other 70s CA Latin soul groups, like Malo or El Chicano. Cuts include "Peace Everybody", "Empty Prophet", "Can't Take The Funk Out Of Me", "Azteca", "Ah! Ah!", and "Mamita Linda". ~ Dusty Groove

AZTECA – PYRAMID OF THE MOON

Excellent album of west coast Latin grooves by this electric fusion outfit that included Pete and Coke Escoved, Flip Nunez, Paul Jackson, Victor Pantoja, and Tom Harrell – plus guest players Lenny White, Mike Nock, and Neal Schon. The tracks have a bit of a Chicano Rock feel to them, with lots of nice electric moments. Titles include "Red Onions", "Mazatlan", "Whatcha Gonna Do", "Mexicana, Mexicana", and "Love Is A Stranger". ~ Dusty Groove



KENNY BURRELL – TENDER GENDER

Despite the "tender" in the title, this is actually a pretty soulful set – a great little small combo side that includes Richard Wyands on piano, Martin Rivera on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. Kenny's at the top of his form – really leading the group in a way that he doesn't always manage on other albums – and even the laidback tunes have plenty going on to keep our ears happy! Titles include "La Petite Mambo", "Suzy", "The Tender Gender", "Girl Talk", "Isabella", and "Hot Bossa". ~ Dusty Groove

 

MILT JACKSON / RAY CHARLES – SOUL BROTHERS

While they didn't do it too often, once in a while the folks at Atlantic would pull Ray Charles in on a jazz session, often with some great results. Both he and Milt get a chance to stretch out a bit here, fooling around on a couple of different instruments than you might typically hear them on, like Milt on piano and guitar and Ray on alto, and they aquit themselves admirably in those roles. Other players include Billy Mitchell, Connie Kay and Oscar Pettiford,a nd the sets filled with nice rolling soulful jazz, mostly penned by Milt & Ray: "Blue Funk", "Cosmic Ray", "Soul Brothers", and "How Long Blues". ~ Dusty Groove.