RAMSEY LEWIS - HOT DAWGIT THE ANTHOLOGY: THE COLUMBIA YEARS
Fantastic sounds from Ramsey Lewis – killer work from a time
when the legendary pianist was electrifying his sound – and transforming the
worlds of jazz, funk, and soul in the process! By the time of these sides,
Ramsey already had more than a decade of incredible Chess Records material
under his belt – soul jazz piano numbers that really rocked the 60s – but here,
Lewis is often moving between acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, and other
keyboards – really opening up his groove at a level that not only shows a
strong relationship with Maurice White and Earth Wind & Fire, but which
also moves into a love of Brazilian music, spacey funk, and lots lots more. The
2CD set is the best we've ever seen to focus on this period – and features 37
tracks that not only include some key Rhodes classics, but also open up into
some important collaborations, unusual instrumental settings, and even some
equally great acoustic numbers that show that Ramsey never lost his roots, even
while expanding his sound. Titles include "Don't It Feel Good",
"Brazilica", "Hot Dawgit", "What It Is",
"Slipping Into Darkness", "Eternal Peace", "Lakeshore
Cowboy", "Kufanya Mapenzi", "All The Way Live",
"Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In", "Whisper Zone", "Come
Back Jack", "Slow Dancin", "7-11", "Eye On
You", "My Love Will Lead You Home", and "Sassy Stew" –
plus duets with Nancy Wilson on "Midnight Rendezvous" and "The
Two Of Us". ~ Dusty Groove
GREGORY PORTER - LIVE IN BERLIN
Filmed in the round at the Philharmonie Berlin on the 18th
May 2016, with minimal staging and simple lighting, it captures Gregory Porter
and his band performing tracks from across his recording career. There’s also a
bonus feature interview with Gregory Porter and the members of his band about
their background, influences and the way they work together as a group. ‘Gregory
Porter: Live in Berlin’ is released November 18th 2016 on DVD and Blu-ray. Tracklisting:
Holding On; On My Way To Harlem / What’s Going On; Take Me To The Alley; Don’t
Lose Your Steam; Hey Laura; Liquid Spirit; Consequence Of Love; Bass Solo /
Papa Was A Rolling Stone; Musical Genocide; Don t Be A Fool; Work Song / Drum
Solo; In Fashion; Be Good (Lion s Song);1960 What?; Water Under Bridges; and Free
/ Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin).
Drummer Jordan Young has a great quartet here – one that
features Brian Charette on Hammond, who shapes the sound as much as Jordan's
drums! In fact, the organ's so up front in the lead, the record might almost
come across as being under Charette's leadership – but, like the time when
drummer Joe Dukes was the leader for organist Jack McDuff, we can also hear
Young's influence on the whole thing too – that tight snap and crackle that
brings a strong focus to the tunes, along with the guitar of Matt Chertkoff and
tenor of Nick Hempton. Hempton gets in plenty of great solos too – and titles
include the originals "Giant Deconstruction" and "Sao Paulo
Nights" – plus versions of "Paris Eyes", "ESP",
"I'm Only Sleeping", "Son Of Ice Bag", and "Time In A
Bottle" – plus a wonderfully groovy take on the "Love Boat"
theme! ~ Dusty Groove
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