Thursday, February 16, 2017

NEW RELEASES: FUKUMI – MOON IN PARIS; DIAZPORA – ISLANDS; DAVID WEISS & POINT OF DEPARTURE – WAKE UP CALL

FUKUMI – MOON IN PARIS 

Moon in Paris, recorded in New York – as Japanese singer Fukumi works with some of that city's top jazz talents – including Eric Alexander on tenor sax, Behn Gillece on vibes, David Hazeltine on piano, John Webber on bass, and Joe Farnsworth on drums! The instrumental core of the album is wonderful – very much in the Alexander/Hazletine camp – and Fukumi's a hell of a singer, too – one who can put forth the lyrics at one point, then scat wordlessly with a very melodic approach – a style that sounds especially nice next to the piano and vibes! Production is wonderful – lean, clean, and just the right mode to capture the interplay between the singer and the band – and all arrangements are by Hazeltine, who also plays a bit of Fender Rhodes. Titles include Fukumi's original "Moon In Paris" – plus nice takes on "The Windmills Of Your Mind", "What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life", "Devil May Care", "Once Upon A Summertime", "Sunny", "I Will Wait For You", "Yesterday When I Was Young", and "This Girl's In Love With You". (HQ – Hi Quality CD pressing!)  ~ Dusty Groove

DIAZPORA – ISLANDS

A record with a cosmic cover, but a sound that's very down to earth – fierce deep funk, in the best Legere Records mode – played by a group who are currently one of the hardest-hitting acts on the funky label! The music's got the full-on power of Afro Funk – especially in the way that everything seems wrapped around the fast-moving rhythms on the upbeat cuts – but the sound is hardly Afro Funk at all – as these guys push things in all sorts of different grooves and currents, and also know how to throw in an offbeat or mellow rhythm when needed – which creates a great sense of freshness on the record. The lineup features alto, tenor, baritone, flute, and trumpet – plus some very strong drums and percussion, and nice use of riffing guitar. Titles include "Street Market", "Islands", "Kinshasa Strut", "Piece By Piece", "Moon", "Me & I", "Nap Xtra Long", and "Numbers".  ~ Dusty Groove

DAVID WEISS & POINT OF DEPARTURE – WAKE UP CALL

Trumpeter David Weiss never fails to give us amazing music, no matter what the setting – and here, he's working with his Point Of Departure group – an ultra-hip lineup that features Myron Waldon and JD Allen on tenor sax, each taking on different parts of the record – plus guitar, bass, and drums – as well as a bit of extra Fender Rhodes from Weiss himself! As with some of David's other projects, the music is a look back at the future of modern jazz in the late 60s and early 70s – with a spotlight on amazing compositions by artists like Wayne Shorter, Kenny Cox, Joe Henderson, Tony Williams, Charles Moore, and John McLaughlin – music that was years ahead of its time when written, and which gets even more forward-thinking treatment here by the group. Rhythms are tentative and angular at some points – really allowing for shades of color between the trumpet and tenor – and other points are bolder, and unlock some deeper righteous power in the compositions. Titles include "Sanctuary", "Noh Word", "Two Faced", "Pee Wee", "Gazelle", "The Mystic Knights Of The Sea", and "Sojourn".  ~ Dusty Groove


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