KIRK DEGIORGIO PRESENTS SAMBATEK
Brazilian
percussion mixed with 21st Century sounds – all served up sublimely in the
hands of Kirk Degiorgio – one of the few artists we could ever expect to get a
project like this just right! The album follows nicely off Kirk's previous
collaboration with Azymuth – but has an even starker sound overall, as core
acoustic percussion bits are worked into contemporary rhythm programs – then
topped with some of the crackling electric touches that you'd expect – often
with a warmer sound than other projects of this nature, but a groove that's
plenty driving overall. Titles include "Babilonia", "Morro Da
Formiga", "Dende", "Borel", "Vidigal",
"Rocinha", "Prazeres", and "Complexo Do Alemao" –
plus remixes "Babilonia (Rick Wilhite dub)", "Borel (Jonas Kopp
my vision of samba rmx)", and "Borel (Nxi rmx)". ~ Dusty Groove
PHAROAHS - AWAKENING
A legendary album from Chicago – recorded by a
group with ties to Sun Ra, Phil Cohran, and Earth Wind & Fire! The set's
got a sound that more than lives up to all those references – a vibe that's
jazzy and soulful, yet often quite righteous too – imbued with the sort of
spirit you'd guess from the group's name and the album's cover image – but
often served up with a tight enough groove to make the set a favorite for fans
of funk as well! There's a really special mix going on here – and unlike other
ensembles of the time, The Pharoahs never go too far out – and instead really
have the great sort of focus you'd hear even more strongly with Earth Wind
& Fire. The lineup features Louis Satterfield on bass, Willie Woods on
trombone, Don Myrick on saxes, Black Herman on drums, and Derf Reklaw on
percussion and flute – and titles include "Ibo", "Somebody's
Been Sleeping", "Damballa", "Freedom Road",
"Great House", and "Black Enuff". (Great new reissue
pressing – heavy tip-on cover, and bonus download too!) ~ Dusty Groove
NINA SIMONE - HERE COMES THE SUN
Classic
RCA work from the great Nina Simone – and an album that definitely shows Nina
hitting more of the soul spectrum than some of her folk and jazz work of the
60s! The set's got these wonderful arrangements from Harold Wheeler – a bit
electric, and done in a way that takes familiar tongs and completely recasts
them for Nina's own vibe – a way of shifting the sense of spirit to unlock a
special Simone-like quality you never would have expected in the tunes from anyone
else! Titles include a great version of "Ooh Child", plus "Just
Like A Woman", "Here Comes The Sun", "New World
Coming", and "My Way". And the set also features Weldon Irvine's
own composition, "How Long Must I Wander?" (Blue Spec CD.) ~ Dusty Groove
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