SLY &
THE FAMILY STONE – SMALL TALK / HIGH ON YOU / HEARD YA MISSED ME WELL I’M BACK
A trio of
second-period Sly Stone albums – all brought together in a single CD set! On
Small Talk, Sly's still doing pretty nice for himself in 1974 – with a sound
that's perhaps a bit warmer than on the early records, but still nice and
soulful – and peppered with a good dose of funk! The groove is really great on
the set – bubbling with a more "deep down" feel than the skittish funk
of the first few records, and breaking out on some great soul numbers that show
Sly to be an even better singer than before – touchingly sensitive at times, in
a really beautiful way! Titles include "Loose Booty", which has a
wonderful popping bass/hollow drum sound, and a tasty break in the middle –
plus the cuts "This Is Love", "Wishful Thinkin", "Time
For Livin", "Can't Strain My Brain", and "Say You
Will". High On You is a nice little mid 70s set from Sly – one recorded
without the Family Stone, but still grooving wonderfully with lots of funky
edges! Sly's expanded his sound nicely here – pushing past the shorter funk of
earlier years to work in some complicated instrumentation that keeps things
really sounding fresh. Great examples of this are the frenetic horn bits on
"Crossword", which you'll recognize from its famous Tribe Called
Quest sample – or the sweeping strings on the mellow groover "That's Lovin
You". The whole thing's great – and other tracks include "I Get High
on You", "So Good to Me", "Le Lo Li", "Green Eyed
Monster Girl", and "Organize". On Heard Ya Missed Me, Sly
Stone's looking like a one-man band on the cover, but the album's definitely
got the full-on collaborative vibe of his early records with the Family Stone!
The main man himself has plenty of charm, and still has that wonderful ear for
a sharp-tinged funky cut – but he's also working in this mode that allows for
other voices to come into the mix at times, and plenty of lively funky
instrumentation underneath the lyrics – which really makes the whole thing feel
like a party all the way through! Titles include "Sexy Situation",
"What Was I Thinkin In My Head", "Mother Is A Hippie", and
"Family Again". ~ Dusty Groove
TIM GARLAND - ONE
One is the
new, highly energetic and unifying studio album from Tim Garland. Working with
his regular collaborators Jason Rebello, Asaf Sirkis and Ant Law, the sax
maestro has dug back into his past and re-examined his early interest in
jazz-rock styles. With One Tim explores many of the influences that have guided
him from the beginning, such as jazz-rock (his Canterbury roots); saxophone
players from both sides of the Atlantic; the Celtic guitar music from long
running project Lammas; the Latin and Spanish inflections that are so deeply a
part of Chick Corea s music; and a variety of rhythmic patterns learned from drum
maestros Bill Bruford and Asaf Sirkis.
VERNERI POHJOLA - PEKKA
'Pekka' is
the new, epochal album in Finnish trumpeter and composer Verneri Pohjola's
already illustrious and prolific career. An album that promises to be a
defining moment in Finnish culture, Pekka reinterprets the music of Verneri's
late father Pekka Pohjola, the internationally acclaimed and revered prog-rock
bassist and composer, through the prism of his son's unique vision. Due for
release worldwide on 2 June 2017, Pekka is one of the most anticipated albums
to emerge from the Finnish progressive, rock and jazz scenes for some time. Seeking
to combine Pekka's music, adored in Finland and internationally during the last
four decades, with Verneri's powerful sense of music making, 'Pekka' is an
album that will excite, inspire and move many fans across borders, generations
and genres. Approaching his 40th birthday, Verneri is in his musical prime.
With an undeniably unique trumpet sound and a gift for blending raw emotion,
technical finesse and control and with an ear adept at finding the middle way
between accessibility and the avant-garde, he has developed an impressive
profile in his home country and internationally as a leading European jazz
performer, bandleader and composer.
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