|
Various Feel the Funk (Sugarfoot)
Various Circo de Bakuza: Silence Is Helium (Michino)
Take 6 Greatest Hits (Warner) When the six-man combo Take 6 debuted their a cappella gospel style in 1987, it was a sound unlike any other: fluid rhythms, solid harmonies and inspirational messages achieved with minimal instrumental accompaniment. Classics like "Spread Love" and "Mary" are joined by a couple of brilliant new tracks. The engaging "One and the Same" features the incomparable Cece Winans, while "The Best Stuff in the World Café" is as infectious a piece of music as the band has ever delivered. 8/10 (Gerard Dee)
Freedy Johnston Blue Days Black Nights (Elektra/Warner) I hate to rip a pessimist-perfectionist like Freedy Johnston, because the world needs these people--and because the singer-songwriter has written some of the finest stuff in the past. But it's a fragile condition, and it would seem that Johnston's has been shattered by a lady friend and the innards are not pretty. Unfortunately, neither are many of the melodies here: a man like Johnston has days that are bluer than most, but nights that are blacker than black. 6/10 (Chris Yurkiw)
Curtis Fuller The Complete Blue Note/UA Sessions (Mosaic) A limited edition box of five marvelous sessions recorded between '57 and '59 by one of the greatest living trombonists. Over three CDs (25 originals by the leader, Oscar Pettiford, Jimmy Heath and Bird, plus seven standards), Fuller combines with the likes of Art Farmer, Lee Morgan, Hank Mobley, Bobby Timmons and Sonny Clark. The last, a three-horn session (plus Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers and Elvin Jones), is worth the price of admission. Superb! 10/10 (Len Dobbin)
|
Out of the woodwork creeps yet another new Montreal label. This time former promoter-about-town Shaun Pilot is making a go at the industry side of things. For his first effort as a label boss he's compiled tracks from the Masters at Work label, Ian Pooley and I:Cube, as well as the Backroom Congregation's cult favorite "Sunday Morning" and SoulSearcher's "Can't Get Enough," which I'm starting to hear enough of. A good collection of club hits with mainstream appeal. Better than MC Mario on a good day. 7.5/10 (Krista)
This is the score to the film about the journey to the island that exists inside of us all, a transcendental experience brought to life by vibrant technicolour rhythms. The journey opens with a Baraka-style ambient moment from San Francisco's Piki Chappell and quickly accelerates into psychedelic trance and big beat from locals Nuclear Ramjet, One Percent Free and "Cadley Haliman," secret identity of Raaaaalph Lockwood, from CBC's High Noon! This fantasy ride comes to an end with a relaxing jazzy number from Tiga and a heady ethno-beat bit from Arkin Allen, dropping you back into reality. 9/10 (Krista)