The Jazz Invaders here are tighter than ever – and not just because they've got some heavy Hammond help from the legendary Lonnie Smith! Smith's definitely a key part of what makes this album so great – and his organ lines have a sharpness and depth that really stands out from the rest of the group – kind of an extra level of sound that really makes the whole thing sparkle! Yet the group themselves are pretty wonderful too – much more righteous than ever before, going past just a combo who can copy the best jazz modes, into the realm of one that's more than capable of making some mighty fresh sounds of their own. Linda Bloemhard sings on a few cuts, with this raspy edge that's pretty cool – but the instrumental push is what really makes the record shine. Titles include "Square Blues", "Little Sunflower", "Buzzin", "Song For Lonnie", "Tastich", "Nelson", "Mellow Mood", and "Tie Am". ~ Dusty Groove
A really cool trio recording – one that has Fred Lonberg-Holm playing some mighty sweet tenor guitar in addition to his usual cello – an instrument that comes across with this great sort of fuzzy sound! The tones spin out in these fluid waves – often a bit more forward-moving than some of Fred's other music, thanks partly to the rhythmic progressions of Nick Macri on bass and Charles Rumback on drums – both players who have a way of staying free, yet still finding a pulse together. Titles include "Floating Melody", "Song For Salim", "Super Seeded", "Convulsive", "In Zenith I", and "The Profit Of Field Stripping". ~ Dusty Groove
Sweet grooves from this hip Spanish combo – one of the hardest-working deep funk combos on the European scene in recent years – and a mighty soulful one as well! Mayka Edjole sings lead vocals in English, but with this cool accent that really makes the music sound different – still as classic and vintage as you might hope for, but also not as much in the copycat mode you might find with other girl funk singers these days – definitely a voice of her own that really makes The Sweet Vandals stand out! Instrumentation is heavy on Hammond and guitar, with bits of added horns here and there, but not nearly as much as from other groups – and there's some light use of strings at a few points, which makes for a nice surprise. Titles include "Whether You Like It Or Not", "After All", "Ain't No Use", "Old Souls", "Out Of My Head", and "Waves & Wings". (Includes bonus download code.) ~ Dusty Groove
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