Funky
instrumentals from bassist Chuck Rainey – a player who was well known for his
work on countless sessions as a sideman, but who rarely got a chance to cut a
record like this! The album's got a style that's smooth and soulful, yet also a
bit down n dirty – almost like some of the similar work from the time on
Atlantic. And no surprise, Rainey's working with a number of Atlantic-styled
studio players – an elite funky group that includes Richard Tee, Billy Butler,
Bernard Purdie, Montego Joe, and Cornell Dupree. The album's got a mellow funky
kind of approach that's almost a precursor to the 70s grooves of the Kudu label
– but with perhaps certain touches of 60s jazz still in the mix as well – and
titles include "Eloise", "Lone Stranger", "Theme From
Peter Gunn", "Got It Together", and "The Rain
Song". ~ Dusty Groove
SEU JORGE – MUSICAS PARA CHURRASCO II
A real
killer from Seu Jorge – one of his best records in years, and maybe even better
than the first volume in this series! The set's got a strongly funky vibe right
from the start – a groove that's almost got the totally perfect feel of
Incognito or Brand New Heavies – but which is even better, given the amazingly
rich, deep style of singing that Jorge brings to the record! Jorge has a voice
that grabs us even when the instrumentation is spare, or he's singing a ballad
– but he's also really at his best on upbeat, soulful material like this –
almost a throwback to the years of 70s samba soul, but with a slightly more
contemporary vibe too. Wonderful all the way through – the kind of record that
should be making Seu Jorge a huge international star – with titles that include
"Papo Reto", "Ela E Bipolar", "Na Verdade Nao
Ta", "Faixa De Contorno", and "Babydoll". ~ Dusty Groove
RUSSELL
TAYLOR – WAR OF HEARTS
A creative
leap forward for indie soul veteran Russell Taylor – with a lot synth and other
electronic production touches, but stll firmly centered around his soulful
voice and solid songs. It's always a rewarding thing when artists we've been
following for years continue to evolve without losing what we love about them
early on, RT is a prime example. The songs here are as great as on any of his
albums to date, and he's still got one of the most expressive voices in the
independent soul scene. Nice! Includes "Electric", "Let Me Love
You", "What She Wants", "War Of Hearts", "Foolish
Hearts", "Can't Cry", "Ghetto Streets", "Can't
Cry", "Proud" and "Hope". ~ Dusty Groove
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