JACO
PASTORIUS – ANTHOLOGY: THE WARNER BROS. YEARS
Stunning
work from bassist Jaco Pastorius – a player who'd already wowed audiences with
his seminal 70s sides with Weather Report, and on his own – but an artist who
really finds a way to grow even more on these early 80s sessions for Warner
Brothers! Pastorious continues to push the electric bass into so many different
spaces – from fast rhythmic riffs, almost like a drum – to spare, ethereal
lines that have a very evocative quality – to meloic pulses that make Jaco as
important to his generation as Jimmy Blanton was to a previous era. Many
numbers here feature largeish lineups – with musicians who include Michael
Brecker, Wayne Shorter, and Bob Mintzer on tenor; Hubert Laws on flute, Peter
Erskine on drums, Don Alias on percussion, Toots Thielemans on percussion, and
Randy Brecker on trumpet – and titles include a previously unreleased version
of "Donna Lee" – plus songs recorded with other artists –
"Nativity" with Airto, and "Mood Swings" with Mike Stern –
as well as Jaco material from the albums Word Of Mouth, Birthday Concert, and
Word Of Mouth Big Band Live in Japan. Titles include "Okonkole Y
Trompa", "Sophisticated Lady", "Fannie Mae", "Amerika",
"Reza", "Punk Jazz", "Domingo",
"Invitation", and "Chromatic Fantasy". ~ Dusty Groove
JAMES
BROWN – LOVE POWER PEACE: LIVE AT THE OLYMPIA PARIS 1971
A lost
treasure from James Brown & The JBs – a vintage live performance from the
early 70s, and one that captures the group at the height of their powers! The
format here is very similar to the excellent Revolution Of The Mind set – a
totally funky, totally righteous live performance that has James and the group
even more energized than in the studio – working with the kind of razor-sharp
intensity that made them a legendary funk act – leaping from tune to tune with
nary a break at all! Bobby Byrd acts as the MC, and joins James for a bit of
vocals – and the group at this point still includes Bootsy Collins on bass,
plus loads of great guitar from Catfish Collins, and Fred Wesley on trombone
and Jabo Starks on drums. Dave Matthews handled some of the arrangements – and
titles include "Soul Power", "Sex Machine",
"Bewildered", "It's A New Day", "Ain't It Funky
Now", "Brother Rapp", "Super Bad", "Give It Up Or
Turnit A Loose", and "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag/I Got You/I Got The
Feelin". Note – this is the first presentation of the material exactly the
way that James Brown intended – as a 3LP set, without the remixing from the
previous CD – pulled right from the original reels! ~ Dusty Groove
KARL
DENSON’S TINY UNIVERSE – NEW AMMO
Karl
Denson's definitely got some new ammo this time around – a sharper, more
hook-based approach to work with his usual funky groove! Denson's tenor and
flute are still strong in the mix, and the record's still got the requisite
Hammond, Fender Rhodes, funky basslines, and horns – but there's also a strong
presence from DJ Williams on both guitar and vocals – adding in some rockish
touches that are bound to push Denson's music to an even bigger new audience.
Some titles have the guitar very strongly in the lead, others showcase Denson's
reeds a bit more – and titles include "Cheerleader",
"Grenadiers", "Three Trials Of Strength", "New
Ammo", "The Duct", "My Baby", and a version of
"Seven Nation Army" – perhaps the most-covered song ever by
contemporary funk bands. ~ Dusty Groove
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