MUDDY WATERS – ELECTRIC MUD
The funk-tinged, pyschedelic soul album from Muddy Waters –
one that irritated many a blues purist in its day – but it's finally reaching
its earned status as a leftfield gem! You know, in the immediate years after
this one (and similar funky blues albums on Chess/Cadet) was released, it was
downplayed as a cheap attempt to sell out Muddy's classic blues sound. These
days, it's treasured by many of us as a unique funky session that merged the
best of Chicago's funk, soul, and blues worlds – taking Muddy's sound way past
earlier records and into uncharted waters. It's similar to some of the work on
Chess at the time by Bo Diddley and Etta James – and it includes lots of nice
updated groovers like "I'm A Man", "I Just Want To Make Love to
You", "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Same Thing", "She's
All Right", and "Tom Cat". Arrangements are by Charles Stepney,
too! (In a gatefold sleeve with poster!)
~Dusty Groove
NICOLA CONTE & GIANLUCA PETRELLA – AFRICAN SPIRITS / NEW
WORLD SHUFFLE
A record that's way more than just the 12" single you
might guess from the format – as it's a wonderfully deep collaboration between
Nicola Conte and trombonist Gianluca Petrella – done at a level that's maybe
more like a spiritual jazz record overall! "African Spirits"
definitely has a groove – the sort you'll know from other Conte records – but
it's less bossa and more tribal, with lots of percussion layered in the mix, as
well as rising voices that feel borrowed from other records – all blended with
a righteous energy that's more in Osunlade territory than usual for Schema! The
tune's got a very powerful set of solos – strong tenor, and even bolder
trombone from Petrella – and "New World Shuffle" is even rawer at the
core, but features strongly soulful vocals from Bridgette Amofah, and some
great keyboards too! Both tracks are nice and long, too. ~ Dusty Groove
COJ & SECOND TIME - SOUND OF AFRICA
An Italian group, but one who play here with a style that
draws strongly from the long tradition of South African jazz – on an album
recorded as part of a protest against that nation's recent massacre in
Marikana! The vibe here is great – and the whole thing almost feels like a lost
70s classic from the Johannesburg scene, or some of the overlooked soulful sets
recorded later on the Sheer label – with a lineup that includes Claudio Cojaniz
on piano, Alessandro Turchet on bass, Luca Colussi on drums, and Luca Grizzo on
percussion and just a bit of vocals. The music is often quite rhythmic –
flowing out in those long-spun cycles that Dollar Brand brought to jazz many
years ago – but there's also some more lyrical, sensitive moments too – on
titles that include "Lion's Trip", "Dadaab", "Ugarit",
"Four Little Boys In Capetown/Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika",
"Marikana", and "Blue Dance". ~ Dusty Groove
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