MUDDY WATERS - CAN'T GET NO GRINDIN'
Muddy
Waters can't get no grinding – but that's hardly a problem, given the strength
of this sweet early 70s set! The album marks Muddy's return to more basic
Chicago blues after his funky electric period on Chess – but the set's still got
some of the trippier touches of a few years before – laid out in a much more
spare, basic way! The guitar has a weird quality at times – possibly from the
way the electric piano comes across at points – almost a bit like Sun Ra's
rocksichord, with all the freaky fuzz that might imply! The harmonica almost
feels electric too – and all three instruments come together with a nicely
offbeat quality that's really head and shoulders above the usual from the
Chicago scene. Titles include "Funky Butt", "After Hours",
"Garbage Man", "Love Weapon", "Muddy Waters'
Shuffle", and "Mother's Bad Luck Child". ~ Dusty Groove
JOE MCPHEE - NATION TIME
A
tremendous look at the early years of the legendary Joe McPhee – a set that's
based around his classic Nation Time album, and which features other live
material from the same time – including a Hat Hut album, and two CDs' worth of
previously unissued work! The core album is legendary – a gritty set that
features a mighty funky drummer, and some of the most soulful work that Joe
ever recorded. Joe plays tenor and trumpet in sweet lineup that features
bubbling organ, vamping rhythms, and some sweet modal elements mixed together
in percussion, guitar, and Fender Rhodes. Titles include the hard wailing
"Nation Time" – plus "Shakey Jake", an excellent 13 minute
funk number – and the moodier "Scorpio's Dance". Next is the searing
Black Magic Man album – an early release on the Hat Hut label, but recorded
during the same December 1970 performance as Nation Time – almost showing the
bolder, freer sound of the group – but still coming across with some surprising
soulful elements too. The original album is expanded by the addition of the
unreleased "Song For Lauren" alternate takes – and the core record
includes "Black Magic Man", "Hymn Of The Dragon Kings", and
"Song For Lauren". The next two CDs feature material recorded in 1969
and 1970 – at Vassar and in Poughkeepsie – with Joe and group working through
some similar spiritual and soul jazz territory as on the Vassar CD issue from
the same label. The music is heavy on elements you'd hear from the Nation Time
album – Hammond, guitar, and even some electric bass and vibes – used in styles
that run from soul jazz, to modal, to more experimental – all on very long
tracks that have McPhee really stretching out on tenor and trumpet! Titles
include "Cold Sweat", "Breakaway Theme",
"Untitled", "Nation Time", "Sunshower",
"Spring Street", and "Contemplation". All 4CDs come in very
cool LP sleeves, in a slipcover box, aiwth a 60 page booklet of notes, photos,
and information on the music! ~ Dusty
Groove
MATS ALEKLINT QUARTET - MATS ALEKLINT QUARTET
A
beautifully bold session from trombonist Mats Aleklint – a player we don't know
well at all, but who really steps out on this set as a leader for Moserobie
Records! The sound is a bit looser than most of the recent work on the label –
not entirely free, but nicely without any strong structures – so that Mats can
stretch out on these amazing lines on both slide and valve trombone, with a
sense of voice and vision on the instrument that we haven't heard since Roswell
Rudd! The rest of the lineup is great too – a quartet with mighty nice tenor
and bass clarinet from Per Texas Johansson, bass from Joe Williamson, and drums
and synth from Christopher Cantillo. Aleklint also plays a bit of thumb piano
and pump organ too – and titles include "Nattbuss", "Hur Eller
Dur", "Braxen", "Algskog", "Landet Runt",
and "Snabbt In Snabb Tut". ~ Dusty Groove
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