New Music Releases: Carlton Jumel Smith - 1634 Lexington Avenue; Greg Foat - Mage; Scone Cash Players - As The Screw Turns

Carlton Jumel Smith - 1634 Lexington Avenue

The long-overdue debut of Carlton Jumel Smith – a soul singer with roots at the Harlem address listed in the title, and who's slowly been working his way around the globe in recent years! Those global travels are key to the success of this set – as Smith works very tightly in Finland's Timmion studios with Cold Diamond & Mink – who bring to his music what the Dap-Tones or El Michels have brought to other singers in the deep funk spectrum! Yet the sound here is definitely different than those efforts, too – as Smith is a soul stylist with a nicely open range – able to hit some late 60s sweet soul moments at times, then going for deeper, more righteous sounds at others – all of which really fit the instrumental range of CD&M, who get a bit of help on horn arrangements from Jukka Eskola, in addition to their usual tight sound at the core. Titles include "Love Our Love Affair", "I'd Better", "You Gonna Need Me", "Help Me", "Woman You Made Me", "We're All We Got", and "I Can't Love You Anymore". ~ Dusty Groove

Greg Foat - Mage

Maybe the most amazing work we've heard so far from Greg Foat – and that's really saying a lot, as the British keyboardist has given us some really incredible records over the years! The work's got a more ambitious vibe than some of Greg's straighter jazz sets – with large arrangements that also bring in voices at times – used in a really haunting way that's part late 60s Chess/Cadet Records, part acid folk – even though the instrumentation is mostly jazz overall! The core group also features this great mix of older British jazz giants and contemporary musicians – the legendary Ray Russell on guitar, with Duncan Lamont on tenor, Art Themen on soprano and tenor, Nat Steele on vibes, Warren Hampshire (of Hampshire & Foat) on guitar and percussion, and Moses Boyd, Clark Tracey, and Malcolm Catto on drums! Lamont is especially great – with these old school tenor solos that bring a strong current of soul to the more complex arrangements – and Foat himself plays piano, keyboards, and harmonium. Titles include versions of Tim Buckley's "Driftin" and Piero Piccioni's "Endless Love" – plus originals "The Mage", "The High Priestess", "Incantation", and "The Magic Radish". ~ Dusty Groove

Scone Cash Players - As The Screw Turns

The Scone Cash Players have a name that's a but unusual, but a sound that's right on the money – thanks to some massive Hammond work from leader Adam Scone, and lots of tight saxophone lines from Ian Hendrickson-Smith – who you'll remember from his work in the Dap-Kings! The groove here is nice and gritty – a bit messier and muddier than Daptone, but definitely in a stretch of the funky universe – and although the group jam instrumentally on a number of tracks, they also get a bit of vocal help along the way – from Naomi Shelton, Jason Joshua, and John Dokes. Titles include "As The Screw Turns", "Bokum Hi", "Dr Red Teeth", "Canned Champagne", "Smoke & Nails", "The Crown Divide", and "Brass Tacks". ~ Dusty Groove