Funky Variation

Oren Ambarchi’s recent Editions Mego release Hubris gets the remix treatment courtesy of electronic music legend Ricardo Villalobos. Villalobos expertly tranforms Ambarchi’s layered web of countless sustained and pulsating palm-muted guitars into a funky, mesmerising and propulsive long-form piece.

Drummer Cindy Blackman's tribute to the seminal Tony Williams Lifetime electric fusion band is loaded with interesting portrayals from different aspects without abject copying of the music that made the band a pioneering pivot point in modern music. New material is sprinkled in with several familiar themes or variations, with Blackman not so much pounding and flailing à la Williams as directing and focusing the power. Electric guitarist Mike Stern is the perfect choice to play the role of John McLaughlin, while organist Doug Carn grew up around this band, and under the influence of Larry Young, so together they are perfect fits. This base band plays three different takes of Carla Bley's "Vashkar," which was a signature composition of the first Lifetime band. The "straight" version is ultra-heavy, brash, and loud, with Stern's snarly guitar acting as a huffing, puffing locomotive engine, well done compared to the original.

With "Ariabesques," Bill Dobbins and the WDR Big Band have brought Johann Sebastian Bach"s "Goldberg Variations" to life once again. Originally composed for the two-manual harpsichord, Dobbins has managed to create an impressive version for big band by swapping repetitive notes with short rests.

With 'Ariabesques' Bill Dobbins and the WDR Big Band bring Johann Sebastian Bach's "Goldberg Variations" to new life, it's presented as a double CD in six panel digipack with a 12-page booklet.

Two cool Henry Mancini album – one soundtrack, and one sweet set of instrumentals! Return Of The Pink Panther is a surprisingly groovy record – and one that's very different from the original Pink Panther soundtrack. Symphonic Soul is one of Henry Mancini's grooviest LPs from the 70s – a mixture of tight large arrangements with a smooth funky edge, similar to some of his best soundtrack work at the time. The rhythm section is great – with Harvey Mason on drums and Joe Sample on keyboards, and guitar by David T Walker and Dennis Budimir – and the album also features some cool solos on instruments like African finger piano and piccolo trumpet.

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