NEW MUSIC: ECCENTRIC SOUL: SITTING IN THE PARK; CLARICE / SERGIO ASSAD - RELIQUIA; PETER BROTZMANN / WILLIAM PARKER / HAMID DRAKE – SONG SENTIMENTALE

ECCENTRIC SOUL: SITTING IN THE PARK

A beautiful tribute to a legendary Chicago soul historian – the late Bob Abrahamian, well-remembered as a completely devoted soul music collector, DJ, and one-man archive who spent the late years of his life trying to uncover lost corners of the Windy City soul scene of the 60s and 70s! Bob's specialty was Chicago groups, and this set is overflowing with rare harmony soul that most of us would never have heard otherwise – the kind of obscure cuts that Abrahamian played on his famous radio show on WHPK (also the alma mater of Dusty Groove, too) – and presented beautifully here by the folks at Numero, on one of the best collections they've given us in years! The notes not only present Bob's story, but also feature bits of interviews he did with obscure Chicago soul artists, alongside photos and other notes too – to support a stunning selection of harmony soul cuts that include "How Could You Love Him" by Shades Of Brown, "Hard To Know" by Oneness, "A Fool Like Me" by Enchanters, "Reach For The Truth" by Puzzle People, "The Girl In The Window" by The Mist, "Second Story Man" by Chocolate Sunday, "Let Love Come In" by Cliff Curry, "Southside Chicago" by Otis Brown & The Delights, "Moaning & Crying" by The Dontells, "So I Can Make This Change" by Krash Band, and "It Ain't Fair (part 1)" by Ahead Of Our Time.  ~ Dusty Groove

CLARICE / SERGIO ASSAD - RELIQUIA

Really lovely sounds from the father/daughter team of Clarice and Sergio Assad – a pair who would already be great as a musical duo, even without a family connection! Sergio plays acoustic guitar throughout – with a fullness of sound, but also the lighter, lyrical sensibility that makes him a perfect match for Clarice's vocals – which have that mix of jazz and more personal expression we love in our favorite Brazilian singers from the 70s – like Tania Maria or Joyce. The songs are simple, and often poetic – but never in a soppy way – more like they're being written in air by guitar and voice, creating a marvelous portrait in sound. Titles include "Capoeira", "Cidade", "Sol De Clave", "Ventos", "The Last Song", "Angela", and "Song For My Father". ~ Dusty Groove

PETER BROTZMANN / WILLIAM PARKER / HAMID DRAKE – SONG SENTIMENTALE

If there's one thing we can expect from this trio of players, it's that they're never going to be too sentimental – as a group like this is always moving forward into the future, opening up new ideas with every moment of their music, and continuing to blow us away after all their many years in music! An album like this is a great reminder that sometimes the greats do it better than anyone else – especially when it comes to free improvisation – because there's a breathlessness to this album that never lets up – a balance between the energy of all three musicians, both as individuals and parts of a whole, that we sometimes don't hear from up-and-comers when they try to hit this territory. The album features two long improvisations – "Song Sentimental" and "Dark Blues" – both a perfect fusion of the talents of Peter Brotzmann on tenor and b-flat clarinet, William Parker on bass, guembri, shakuhachi, and shehnai – and Hamid Drake on drums and percussion. ~ Dusty Groove