MAVIS
STAPLES – YOUR GOOD FORTUNE (EP)
Just a
four-track set from soul legend Mavis Staples – but a record that's got more
than enough feeling to beat most full length albums on the market! The four
tracks here were all produced by Son Little – and have this unusual approach
that mixes acoustic roots with some slight contemporary touches – very light
drum program passages from Little, mixed with more spontaneous instrumentation
on guitar, organ, and slide guitar – plus a bit of backing vocals from a small
group who almost bring in an old sort of Staple Singers vibe! The whole thing's
still very much in keeping with the classic vibe of other Mavis projects in
recent years – and titles include "Your Good Fortune",
"Fight", "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean", and "Wish
I Had Answered". ~ Dusty Groove
GREAT
REVIVERS – HAVE A DRINK WITH GREAT REVIVERS
We'd love
to have a drink with The Great Revivers – as it would finally give us a chance
to tell them how much we really love their music! This strong full length debut
from the Russian funk combo really pushes past their initial wave of singles –
showing the group to not only be as rock-solid as any funk group on this side
of the former east/west divide – but also one that has a very mature,
thoughtful approach to their instrumentation – super-skilled, and often with
these jazzy inflections that remind us of New Mastersounds at their best! The
lineup is nice and lean – just guitar, organ, percussion, bass, and drums –
with no horns or vocals at all, just a lot of wonderful interplay between the
keyboard and electric strings. Titles include "The Return Of Green
Snake", "Dandelion Wine", "Sand & Breeze",
"Rhino's Walk", "Midnight Run To Liquor Store", and
"At The Dipsotheque". ~ Dusty
Groove
CYRUS
CHESTNUT – A MILLION COLORS IN YOUR MIND
The
title's a great one, as pianist Cyrus Chestnut explodes with a flurry of colors
right from the very first note – that wonderful sense of richness in tone that
made Chestnut a musician to watch right from the start, but which was sometimes
dimmed in his projects for larger labels at the height of his fame. Thankfully,
Cyrus has gotten even more open and powerful in recent years – working in a
wonderfully unfettered setting like this, with superb support from bassist
David Williams and drummer Victor Lewis – both extremely creative musicians,
but in a really understated way. The trio comes together in the right mix of
rhythm and lyricism that you'd find in the best Cedar Walton trio dates – no
surprise, given Williams' long work with Walton – and titles include
"Brotherhood Of Man", "From A Tip", "Gloria's
Step", "Hello", "A Time For Love", and
"Yemenja". ~ Dusty Groove
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