GUNTER
BABY SOMMER – DEDICATIONS
One of
the best examples of the drum skills of Gunter Sommer we've heard in a long
long time – and a great return to his Hormusik format from many years back! The
album's all solo – and has Sommer working in a haunting blend of percussion and
drums – but with sounds that are beautifully melodic, and as much filled with a
sense of tone and color as they are with rhythm! The record features a set of
dedications to important drummers who've influenced Gunter over the years –
Baby Dodds, Pierre Favre, Paul Lovens, Ed Blackwell, Max Roach, and others –
each given a solo piece with a very distinct sound, and sometimes a bit of
spoken introduction by Sommer. Titles include "Von Baby Zu Baby",
"Art Goes Art", "A Letter To Paul", "Ed
Blackwell", "Selfportrait", and "Von Max Fur
Max". ~ Dusty Groove
BARRY
GUY NEW ORCHESTRA – AMPHI: RADIO RHONDO
Two
great large group works from bassist Barry Guy – both with the sort of
individual qualities we love in his music with the London Jazz Composers
Orchestra! The players here are from a wider range of European sources, and all
work together as a whole, but get plenty of space for personal expression –
tones and voices that are initially most strong from the bass of Guy and violin
of Maya Homburger – but which evolve to include Evan Parker and Mats Gustafsson
on saxes, Hans Koch on bass clarinet, Johannes Bauer on trombone, and Paul
Lytton and Raymond Strid on percussion. "Amphi" is a long work that
begins with a more careful sense of presence – but "Radio Rondo"
rolls in with much greater group force, and continues boldly for nearly 30
minutes. ~ Dusty Groove
LEE
RITENOUR – RIT
Few
people did soulful fusion better than Lee Ritenour back in the early 80s – and
the guitarist always seemed to find a way to really link together all the
different sounds of the electric genre – from heavy jamming to soulful grooving
to a rock-like appreciation for a good hook! Harvey Mason provides some great
heavy drums, and also helped Lee produce – which gives the record a sharp,
soulful focus that's like some of Harvey's own great records of the time – an
undercurrent of funk that more than helps keep the Ritenour vocals moving
along! Titles include "Mr Briefcase", "Countdown",
"Good Question", "Dreamwalk", "Is It You", and
"Just Tell Me Pretty Lies". ~
Dusty Groove
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