GEORGE COLEMAN - A MASTER SPEAKS
The title certainly gets it right – as master tenorist
George Coleman speaks volumes here with his horn – reminding us that he's one
of the all-time giants on his instrument, and a player who's really continued
to give us so much wonderful music over the decades! Coleman's right at home on
the record – which may well be one of his best in years – open and flowing on
his solos, but often with a nice sort of bite, even in the mellower moments –
that special sort of edge that George has brought to his playing, from his
years with Miles Davis to the many decades after. The group features Mike Ledonne
on piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and George Coleman Jr on drums – making his
debut with the elder George here – and Peter Bernstein makes an appearance on
one track for some guest guitar. Titles include the originals "Sonny's
Playground", "Time To Get Down", "Blues For BB", and
"Blondie's Waltz" – plus a great take on "Invitation", and
"You'll Never Know What You Mean To Me" and "The Shadow Of Your
Smile". ~ Dusty Groove.
TAHIRAH MEMORY - PRIDE
A tremendous debut from Tahirah Memory – an underground soul
singer from the same Oregon scene as Jarrod Lawson, who also helped co-produce
the album! Tahirah's got a beautifully fresh sound – sharp songs that burst
from her pen with a sort of urgency we haven't heard in years – yet delivered
with this understated, jazz-tinged style that's never forced or overdone – even
when Memory's got these sharp changes in her vocals and instrumentation! Lawson
plays piano, keyboards, and most of the other instrumentation – and the
record's a great reminder that there's still a huge amount of life in the
contemporary soul underground – if you know where to look and listen. Titles
include "Time", "Pride", "I Can't Change",
"Beautiful Disaster", "All The Time", "Puddin",
"Nice Guy", and "Again". ~ Dusty Groove
RYLE – ADVENTURES OF JEFFERSON KEYES
Fantastic bit of boogie – a contemporary set, but one that
it feels like it was lifted from the best of the early 80s underground – from
the post-disco, funky club rhythms – right through to the soulful vocals and
warm keyboards in the mix! The tunes have a sound that's sophisticated, but
very organic too – that best sort of funky flow that you'll remember from the
moment when the bigger discos were closing their doors, and club music went
back underground and got stripped down to its finest elements! Rob Hardt
provides the great keyboards on the record – and vocals are by a variety of
singers – including Seest, Flemming Fanoe, Kiki Kyte, Folami, Kenny Thomas, and
Sulene Fleming – on titles that include "Keep The Faith", "Busy
Dreamin", "Never Gonna Let You Go", "Lift Your Head Up",
"Private Eye", "Soho House", and "Something's Got Me
Walking On Air". The tunes are positive and upbeat as their titles might
imply – and the record's a great one if you go for an Incognito-styled groove!
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