Selenites Band - Ethio Jazz Groove Project
An album that definitely lives up to the title – as the
music here is rooted in classic Ethiopian modes, but also has the freer flow of
a contemporary funky jazz ensemble! There have been other Ethio-styled albums
from current groups in recent years, but this set may well be one of the best –
as the group really leave room for plenty of their own sense of expression, which
includes some nicely roomy solos, especially on baritone sax! Other
instrumentation includes Fender Rhodes, moog, flute, bass, drums, guitar, and
some guest organ – and titles include reworks of classics by Mulatu Astatke and
some of his contemporaries – "Yegelle Tezeta", "Yekatit",
"Muzikawi Silt", "Yekermo Sew", and "Antchim
Endelela". ~ Dusty Groove / (Hand-numbered
limited edition of 300!).
Aldorande - Aldorande
A jazz funk killer from Aldorande – a French quartet that
features some mighty nice keyboards from Florian Pellissier, who we also really
love on his own recordings too! The style here is different than those, though
– very tight rhythms with a slightly cosmic core – almost jazz funk taking
things back from the broken beat generation, finding a way to move with energy
learned from that scene, but in a style that's more cohesively funky – classic
and contemporary at the same time! The group get a bit of help from added horns
at points, and there's also a bit of vocals on the set too – but the main
energy comes from the fantastic mix of keyboards and rhythms at the core.
Titles include "Praia Do Destino", "Rayon Vert",
"Because Of You", "La Fin Est Un Commencement",
"Beauty Island", and "Sous La Lune". ~ Dusty Groove
Cotonete & Di Melo - Atemporal
A legendary soul singer returns to the fold – the mighty Di
Melo, who's best known for one killer Brazilian funk album in the 70s – working
here with superb support from contemporary French combo Cotonete! Di Melo's
vocals maybe sound even better than before – with a raspy charm that only
deepens the soul, and which has this tremendous power, even if you can't
understand his Portuguese lyrics – and Cotonete provide grooves that move
between tight funk and airier moments, often drenched in Fender Rhodes, which
gives the whole thing the right sort of 70s echoes to take us back to Di Melo's
classic material. Really tremendous, and long overdue – with cuts that include
"Canto Da Yara", "Papos Desconexos (parts 1 & 2)",
"Linhas De Alinhar", "Verso E Prosa", "Kilario",
and "Mulher Instrumento (parts 1 & 2)". ~ Dusty Groove
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