Thursday, February 20, 2014

NEW RELEASES: LENNY WILLIAMS – CHOOSING YOU; RUDY ROYSTON – 303; RICHARD BONNET / TONY MALABY / ANTONIN RAYON / TOM RAINEY - WARRIOR

LENNY WILLIAMS – CHOOSING YOU

A killer set from Lenny Williams – done in a smoothly jazzy mode that echoes with a real Fantasy Records groove! Lenny's clearly drawing some great inspiration here from the East Bay scene – working with older Motown producer Frank Wilson on a set of warmly modern numbers that really help him state a strong voice as a solo act. The grooves are all just perfect for Lenny's vocals – funky, but never too much so – and smooth without being slick – a rare balance, but one that comes off perfectly here, and makes the set a great one! Essential mellow soul throughout – with tracks that include "Look Up With Your Mind", "Riding The High Wire", "Choosing You", "Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh", "Please Don't Tempt Me", "Trust In Me", and "I've Been Away From Love For Too Long". CD features lots of bonus tracks – "Choosing You (12" single)", "Choosing You (7" single)", "Shoo Doo Fu Fu Ooh (7" single)", and "Look Up Your Mind (7" single)". ~ Dusty Groove

RUDY ROYSTON – 303

The first album as a leader from drummer Rudy Royston – a player we've enjoyed for years in the company of others, and one who emerges here with a really fresh voice of his own! Rudy's drums are bold, but also have this way of opening up and allowing magical interplay between all the other members of the group – a warm combo that features Jon Irabagon on saxes, Nadja Noordhuis on trumpet, Nir Felder on guitar, Sam Harris on piano, and either Mimi Jones or Yasushi Nakamura on bass. The guitar and piano combo is wonderful – ringing with these compelling chromes, especially on the tracks that feature Jones' wonderfully soulful work on bass. Most tracks are originals by Rudy – furthering the personal voice of the record – and titles include "Mimi Sunrise", "Play On Words", "Miles To Go", "Gangs Of New York", "High & Dry", and "Bownze". ~ Dusty Groove

RICHARD BONNET / TONY MALABY / ANTONIN RAYON / TOM RAINEY - WARRIOR


Post-musical tones from a very powerful lineup – a quartet who make some really amazing sounds from very familiar instruments – all used at levels that are quite different than you'd hear in standard jazz, or even most avant work as well! The group features Richard Bonnet on guitar, Tony Malaby on tenor and soprano sax, Antonin Rayon on Hammond, and Tom Rainey on drums – but the overall sound is way different than any tenor/organ/guitar combo we've ever heard! The Hammond is especially amazing – used to generate these offbeat sounds, which are then echoed by Bonnet's guitar – and laced with reed lines that are sometimes melodic, sometimes more textural – on titles that include "Warrior", "Bonne Resolution", "World Of Signs", "Kala", and "Coney Island Line". ~ Dusty Groove


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