DALINDEO –
SLAVIC SOULS
A new sort
of a shift for Dalindeo – as you might guess from the title – as the group adds
in a bit of slavic roots to their usual jazzy groove! The core instrumentation
is still live jazz, but the group also touch on some older Finnish tango modes
with the rhythms, and work with the increased use of electric guitar we've
heard on some of their more recent efforts – all of which makes for a sound
that's unlike anything else you've probably heard! The tenor and trumpet tie
together beautifully, creating rich waves of sound with lots of jazzy energy –
while the guitar has a classic electro twang at times, soaring out over the
heavy percussion and drums. Two tracks feature a guest vocalist – and titles
include "Avalanche", "Hips & Curves", "Tell
Me", "Bolero For Miss B", "Tarantella Finlandese",
"Johnny's Nightmare", and "Slavic Souls". ~ Dusty Groove
TOM HARRELL –
SOMETHING GOLD, SOMETHING BLUE
Trumpeter
Tom Harrell has always been a chromatic player – but this time around, there
seems to be even more chromes in his music than usual – a wonderful array of
colors and tones that grab our ears right from the very first note! Perhaps
it's the title – which is certainly evocative – but the music also has some
great elements from the guitar of Charles Altura, who's able to cascade chords
in this effortless way from the strings of his instrument – and trumpeter
Ambrose Akimusire is also on the record, joining Tom in the frontline, and
bringing his equally colorful sound to the music! Rhythms are nice and organic
– sometimes with a rootsy vibe that's a nice offset to the trumpet and guitar –
and the group features Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Johnathan Blake on drums. Omer
Avital plays oud on one track – "Delta Of The Nile" – and other
titles include "Trances", "Keep On Goin", "Sound
Image", "The Vehicle", "Travelin", and
"Circuit". ~ Dusty Groove
DEGO – MORE THINGS
STAY THE SAME
Brilliant
work from Dego – a rich continuation of the 4Hero groove, but set to styles
that are very much Dego's own! The vibe here follows nicely from some of his
well-circulated mixes from a few years back – but Dego's directing all the
music himself in this flurry of skittish beats and cosmic keyboards – the
latter of which are played wonderfully by Kaidi Tatham! In fact, the album's
got some of the spiritual currents that we love in Kaidi's music – although the
overall focus is definitely more in the 4Hero mode, especially when vocals from
Sharlene Hector come into the mix, and really set the tunes home. Titles
include "Shine A Light", "It Don't Get No Better",
"Greed & Power", "Help Me Out", "We've Been Here
Before", "Feminist Meetings", and "The Middle Ground".
~ Dusty Groove
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