A really fantastic collaboration between two pioneers of African music – and a set that nicely opens both into the jazziest side of their talents! Hugh Masekela blows flugelhorn, and Tony Allen handles drums and plenty of percussion – and although both artists sing a bit, the main focus here is really on the instrumentation – as half the album's tracks are instrumentals, and there's plenty of room for solos over the really great rhythms in the mix! The lineup of players is great, too – tight, but with some nice surprises – including tenor from Steve Williamson, vibes from Lewis Wright, and keyboards from Joe Armon Jones – on titles that include "Robbers Thugs & Muggers", "Agbada Bougou", "Obama Shuffle Street Blues", "We've Landed", "Slow Bones", and "Never". Great 2CD edition – in a hardcover book-styled cover, with a bonus CD of remixes! ~ Dusty Groove
Timeless in a way that few other acts today are, The Spinners are one of the most iconic and enduring groups in R&B history. With a towering legacy spanning over six decades, The Spinners have never lost their universal appeal. And now, they return with their first all-new original album in nearly 40 years- the aptly-titled, Round the Block and Back Again. Melding intricate harmonies with breathtaking vocal acrobatics, the album shows The Spinners at their soulful, multi-octave best. Timely yet timeless, Round the Block and Back Again is a triumphant return. From the classic jazz of “Show Me Your Heart” to the very relevant ode to love in the age of COVID, “Missing Your Embrace”. The 2021 Spinners navigate the sands of time as seamlessly-and smoothly-as ever. Preston Glass, the album’s producer, studied at the feet of Thom Bell- and it shows… He knows precisely how to make what’s vintage feel contemporary, and vice versa. ~ firstexperiencerecords.com
A really great record from Finnish saxophonist Timo Lassy – and one that's a bit different than you might expect from the title – as the set doesn't just feature Timo blowing with his trio, but also work from a larger set of strings, who really take the record into sublimely soulful territory! The vibe is maybe late 60s Cadet Records, with all the complexity in the arrangements – straight blowing from Timo on tenor, with a wonderfully raw, raspy sound – but set against these larger charts that are wonderful – almost like an Eddie Harris record with Charles Stepney, or some of the earliest John Klemmer material for Chess! Titles include "Sointu", "Orlo", "Pumping C", "Better Together", "Foreign Routes", and "Subtropical". ~ Dusty Groove
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