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DL MEDIA
KENNY GARRETT/Sketches of MD: There’s a certain cachet that comes with being a Miles Davis alumni. Garrett shrugs off the “I remember Miles” thing and instead goes for an “I remember Miles sidemen” thing. Since he didn’t watch it all from the cheap seats, his explorations are just as valid as those of Ron Carter or Al Foster. Joined by Pharaoh Sanders, Garrett pushes his art forward on a smoking date that captures the progressive side of Davis quite nicely. Certainly not a run-of-the-mill career pauser, this is a date with some solid, challenging listening. A nice, meaty outing for those looking for the real deal. Check it out
1042 (Mack Avenue)
KARI ON PRODUCTIONS
MOSAIC/Unsaid, Undone: Here’s a grand bunch of jazzbos that have been playing together for a long time and finally decided to take the recording plunge. It’s about time. Whether playing together or in other configurations, this crew has a lot of flying time and has had plenty of opportunity to get and keep their chops in top form. This straight ahead jazz at its core this bunch isn’t afraid to dip their toes in other waters and make it all sound quite grand. Overall, quite a stunning contemporary jazz outing.
6 (Snack)
MARK PUCCI MEDIA
REDD VOLKAERT/Reddhead: You might be one of the gods of the Telecaster, but if you’ve got a few extra years and a few extra pounds on you it certainly doesn’t hurt to have a hot, naked, red head on your album cover. There’s a few heavy rockers on here he probably put on to impress her. Outside of those cuts, this set is chock full of modern Texas dance hall and rocked up country the stuff of which Volkaert is known and loved for. In the spirit of other recent Austin indie releases he’s been an integral part of, this set simply smokes. Guitar fans, this is more solid work from an unassailable, consummate pro.
(Telehog)
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS
BURNING SPEAR/Jah is Real: One of the few guys left that you can call a grand old man of reggae, Spear takes everything into his own hands and pulls off quite a dandy record complete with guest spots by Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell. Still the activist, Spear is releasing this new set on Marcus Garvey’s birthday. At 63 years old, he‘s expressing a great antipathy toward the organized record business and does quite a mighty job of showing what he can do with his own devices. A bouncy, bouyant and lively record even at its most political, reggae is alive and well as shown by the energy and spirit on the set. Reggae fans can rejoice that there’s something more than reissues out there now. If you’ve drifted away from the genre, this is a good time and place to come back in.
334 (Burning Music)
SUBURBAN NOIZE
OPM/Golden State of Mind: The underground is alive and well. This California sound might not be what you and Brian Wilson envisioned but it’s the California sound none the less. With the following bigger than any of the current roster acts at Warner Bros., OPM are anything but a bunch of wannabes working out of their mother’s basements. With a hard-hitting core sound and a first-class guest list that rivals anything you’d find on a rap record, this is the current sound of hormones running wild. You might not think you’re too old to roll a doobie and get into some tunes but you need to fire up a blunt to get the full impact here. Hard-hitting stuff that’s on the road to being the Led Zeppelin of tomorrow.
Volume 31/Number 275
August 1, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record
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