NEW RELEASES - KIRK DEGIORGIO PRESENTS SAMBATEK, PHAROAHS, NINA SIMONE

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