Wednesday, January 27, 2016

NEW RELEASES: NINA SIMONE – IN PARIS 1968; RODRIGO CAMPOS – CONVERSAS COM TISHORO; INDIGO JAM UNIT - LIGHTS

NINA SIMONE – IN PARIS 1968

A stunner of a set from the lengedary Nina Simone – a really special live recording done in Paris in the late 60s – at a time when Nina was working at the height of her powers, and had a young Weldon Irvine in her group as music director! Weldon plays piano, keyboards, and Hammond on the record – and gives the tunes these snakey, long grooves that are nicely different from some of Nina's studio material – and have the singer reaching out with these long takes on tunes that include "Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair", "Ain't Got No/I Got Life", "Mama Lou/Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", "To Love Somebody", "Susanne", and "Be My Husband". And the soulful backing group also features Tom Smith on guitar, Don Alias on drums, and Jumma (Santos?) on percussion!  ~ Dusty Groove

RODRIGO CAMPOS – CONVERSAS COM TISHORO

A completely beautiful set from contemporary Brazil – and a record that, like some of our favorite classics from that scene, has a mindblowing vibe and a sound that's completely beyond any sort of easy description! Rodrigo Campos has a way of weaving acoustic and electric elements together with a quality that's sometimes snakey, often exotic, and occasionally touched by warmer jazz phrasing – although the music is completely individual, and light years from jazz too. Campos sings with this raspy style that has an undercurrent of soul, and which gives his Portuguese lyrics an instant appeal, even if you can't understand the language – and there's a instantly captivating, completely compelling sound to the record that we'd put in a line between mid 70s Caetano Veloso, and later material from singers like Lenine or Arnaldo Antunes. Titles include "Wong Kar Wai", "Funatsu", "Takeshi E Asayo", "Chihiro", "Abraco De Ozu", "Velho Amarelo", "Toshiro Vinganca", and "Dona Da Bateria". (Limited, numbered pressing of 300 copies!) ~ Dusty Groove

INDIGO JAM UNIT - LIGHTS

Indigo Jam Unit are really on fire here – working in a monstrous blend of funky drums, acoustic piano, and some of the warmest, roundest basslines you'll ever hope to hear! Imagine a jazz trio with an ear for small combo funk, and you'll get part of the picture of these guys – but they've also got a depth that goes way beyond that simple reference, too – as they bring lyrical touches to their music, while still stepping out in a modal groove – and they use acoustic bass that would be right at home on the famous Low End Theory by Tribe Called Quest! All tunes are instrumental, and also include some added percussion too – and titles include "End Of Fall", "Memories", "Dawn", "Looper", "Nomad", "Commons & Sense", and "Descarga". (SHMCD pressing.)  ~ Dusty Groove

 

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