Thursday, November 03, 2016

NEW RELEASES: LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS – SPECIAL NIGHT; CHARLIE HADEN & LIBERATION MUSIC ORCHESTRA – TIME/LIFE; REINER WITZEL & DATFUNK – STEPPIN’ UP

LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS – SPECIAL NIGHT

A really fantastic album from the legendary Lee Fields – a set that blows us away every bit as much as his stellar My World album! Like that set, this one's got kind of a moody early 70s vibe – almost a New Jersey soul approach at times, but tinged with more southern modes – mixed with bits of Lee's more familiar funk at others – but often with this moody, almost mellow vibe that's such a fresh take on the territory that Fields has been exploring for years! Lee's lost none of the deep soul elements in his vocals, but there's a shift in arranging styles that's really great – and superbly delivered by the Expressions – a subtle darkness that shows why Fields is really one of the true greats out there in the contemporary funk underground – a true soul singer who's never content to just rest on the laurels of previous success. Titles include "Let Him In", "Lover Man", "Make This World", "How I Like It", "Special Night", "I'm Coming Home", and "Where Is The Love". ~ Dusty Groove

CHARLIE HADEN & LIBERATION MUSIC ORCHESTRA – TIME/LIFE

The last Liberation Music Orchestra effort from the great Charlie Haden – offered up here in a set that brings together two live performances from a time when he was still on the planet, plus three more songs by the group on their own – working under the guidance of longtime musical partner Carla Bley! The set begins with a beautiful reworking of Miles Davis' "Blue In Green" – redone here by Haden and the group as a masterpiece of color and tone – and the record closes with a version of Haden's "Song For The Whales", both recorded with Charlie and the group in 2011. In between are three more new performances, post-Haden – the beautiful titles "Time Life/Silent Spring", and "Utviklingssang" – all of which really live up to that long legacy of amazing colors and tones that the group did so well. The two different slices of music come together beautifully, and make for a surprisingly unified set in the end. ~ Dusty Groove

REINER WITZEL & DATFUNK – STEPPIN’ UP

A great mix of jazzy, soulful and funky grooves from Germany! Reiner Witzel plays sax and flute with Datfunk, a solid group who seamlessly blends the above mentioned styles into a unique sound that's some both relaxed and exciting – never too smoothed out, but rarely venturing into raw funk, either. Nice stuff on the always reliable Unique label! The tracklist has a few great Witzel originals, which fit perfectly with distinctive takes on diverse tunes by Jackie Mittoo, Nat Adderley, Kenny Barron and others. Titles "Get Up And Get It", "Awakening", "Circus Of Deseaster", "Athens After Midnight" , "Lato", "Hummin'", "Hot Tamale", "Sunshower" and "Athens After Midnight Part 2". ~ Dusty Groove


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