Mulatu Astatke – Éthiopiques 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale 1969-1974

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

World music that combines jazz, African rhythms, and spiritual elements into something distinct.

Moods

Beautiful, original, sultry, spiritual – this is timeless music that transcends classification.

Thoughts

I struggle to describe this as I think boxing it into descriptors would do it a disservice. Instead I've jotted some feelings in the mood section but encourage listening during evening hours, adds to a warm atmosphere with positive spirits. More lively then not.

Great playing throughout. The solos feel a little too defined as opposed to the looseness I prefer in jazz but each has crafted them so well that they never suffer.

Classic and essential listening that welcomes revisits.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Mulatu-Astatq%C3%A9-%C3%89thiopiques-4-Ethio-Jazz-Musique-Instrumentale-1969-1974/release/724788

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwLr7FtBlE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjZuX3XBGAo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIjZngfgv10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgilX6AUClY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGeqiB73H90

Spotify


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Mulatu Astatke – Éthiopiques 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale 1969-1974

Description: Album Review of Mulatu Astatke – Éthiopiques 4: Ethio Jazz & Musique Instrumentale 1969-1974


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

The Crusaders – Crusaders 1

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

groovy jazz funk rock (fusion?)

Moods

Crack open a can of that smooth 70s groove

Thoughts

polished and slick fusion that's pretty straightforward rock at times. Lots of brass and 70s funk licks. A little too slick and jazzy at times for me to call it a record I love (that might be one of my problems with fusion is that it sits in the middle) but I can dig this groove, that drummer is so in the pocket it's ridiculous.

Love some parts – keys solo on Georgia cottonfield. The chilled out funk on so far away, an album highlight.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/The-Crusaders-Crusaders-1/release/2447492

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J84IiZ6WfGI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OahE2GGaGq4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHGlEvEtbuU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jXsPUB-Qf0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfSp5gcFf9w

Spotify


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The Crusaders – Crusaders 1

Description: Album Review of The Crusaders – Crusaders 1


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Junior Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun

★★★★★ = Classic, essential listening

Sounds like?

scorching sax driven r&b

Moods

Motown at its most explosive

Thoughts

All hits on this LP of raw sax driven r&b. Walker's scorching solos screech out the sax, as if he can barely contain his sax playing. The result is an explosive swinging energy on every track. The recording has an appealing grit that likely results from the studio. It sounds it's age but doesn't feel dated.

Songwriting is kind of monotone but with energy this good it's hard to imagine the history of popular music without Jr. Walker.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Jr-Walker-And-The-All-Stars-Shotgun/release/6837125

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV27DtGUhnc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FI7CtxlisCk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyGHXD3WQ-I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrDVZVBekcg

Spotify


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Junior Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun

Description: Album Review of Junior Walker & The All Stars – Shotgun


Rating: 5 out of 5

 

Abra – Rose

★★★☆☆ = Good!

Sounds like?

Modern r&b with sparse synth / drumpad production

Moods

Feels like wearing a starter jacket in 2017

Thoughts

I like the style but she's kind of lacking lyrical substance. Things open up with a Spacey / subduded band vibe on tracks like rose. I liked a bunch off this.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Abra-Rose/release/7145364

Listen!

Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-qcz47h9zo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhe7CckB05w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI1g4dnDtao

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSZkeg4T2u4

Spotify


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Abra – Rose

Description: Album Review of Abra – Rose


Rating: 3 out of 5

 

Curtis Knight & The Squires – You Can’t Use My Name – The RSVP / PPX Sessions

★★☆☆☆ = Eh, fine

Sounds like?
R&B / electric blues

Moods
Rainy day woman take me away

Thoughts
There’s effectively two parts to this: R&B tracks written by Curtis Knight and a handful of instrumentals written by Hendrix. I like the instrumentals but wasn’t into the vocal tracks written by Curtis. Stick with Hendrix’s main catalog.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Curtis-Knight-The-Squires-You-Cant-Use-My-Name-The-RSVP-PPX-Sessions/release/6942436

Listen!

Youtube



Spotify

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Curtis Knight & The Squires – You Can’t Use My Name – The RSVP / PPX Sessions

Description: Album Review of Curtis Knight & The Squires – You Can’t Use My Name – The RSVP / PPX Sessions


Rating: 2 out of 5

 

Raury – All We Need

★★★☆☆ = Good!

What’s it sound like?

A blend of pop, hip hop, acoustic songwriter, alternative, r&b

Thoughts

Instrumentation and songwriting is really good, he’s clearly plugged in given some of the features on this; points for pulling from the right influences. Engaged by the variety of styles, I enjoyed the first seven or so, he’s at his best when he’s evoking Andre 3000 ala forbidden knowledge.

I feel he needs a bit more time to grow as a lyricist as he raps about the right topics but lacks lyrical wit. The album is long winded and his altruistic preaching feels disconnected and unrelatable.

More Info

https://www.discogs.com/Raury-All-We-Need/release/7835971

Listen!

Youtube


Spotify