WADADA LEO
SMITH / JOHN LINDBERG – CELESTIAL WEATHER
Some of the
most beautiful, personal work we've heard from trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith in
many years – a wonderful set of duets with bassist John Lindberg – done at a
level that recalls some of Smith's most organic, most spiritual sounds of the
70s! There's a real back to basics vibe here – a return to the initial spirit
of the AACM, something we possibly infer from the album's long tribute to
Malachi Favors, but which we can also feel in the spirit of collaboration
between Smith and Lindberg – a way of coming together that never overwhelms the
individual, yet also never allows one individual to ever upstage the other – as
the duo reach out brilliantly for a breathtaking range of sounds, on titles
that include "Malachi Favors Maghostut A Monarch Of Creative Music",
"Celestial Weather Suite", and "Feathers & Earth". ~ Dusty Groove
GILSON
PERANZZETTA / AMOY RIBAS – REPERCUTINDO
A hell of a
wonderful record from legendary Brazilian pianist Gilson Peranzzetta – an
artist we've loved since his crucial 70s MPB arrangements – working here with
younger percussionist Amoy Ribas, who turns in some especially great work on
vibes! The music just comes from the pair – Gilson on acoustic piano throughout
– and Amoy on vibes and lots of percussion – both working together in these styles
that are complicated, but constantly grooving too – that blend of infectious
rhythms and melodic sophistication we love in so much Brazilian music from
years back, like work by Hermeto Pascoal or Edu Lobo, distilled here down to an
essence that's completely sublime! Many tracks have both vibes and percussion
overdubbed – a perfect blend for the dynamic colors that seem to leap forward
from Gilson's hands with an almost effortless quality – and the production is
wonderful, with a core rootsy quality that makes the whole thing feel a lot
more vintage than contemporary. Titles include "Luiz Eca E Pra Voce",
"Fator RH", "Repercutindo", "Croa De Um
Jongueiro", "Paz", "Entre Rios", and "La Vai O Cara". ~ Dusty Groove
THE NEW
MASTERSOUNDS – MADE FOR PLEASURE
The New
Mastersounds are definitely made for pleasure – at least to our funk-sensitive
ears – as the group's been giving us nothing but greatness since the turn of
the millenium, with no sign of stopping at all! That boundless energy is
apparent right from the very first note on this sweet little record – a very
tight, very fierce set that has the group cutting even sharper rhythms than
before – all laced with superb guitar from the mighty Eddie Roberts, and
equally at home with gritty funky 45 styles as with 70s blacksploitation funk!
Many numbers feature an added tenor or trumpet, or both – with some nice solos
to fill out the instrumental passages – and the set only features a bit of
vocals from Charly Lowry on a few tracks. Titles include "High &
Wide", "Cigar Time", "Joy", "Sitting On My
Knees", "Made For Pleasure", "Tranquilo", and
"Just Gotta Run". ~ Dusty
Groove
No comments:
Post a Comment