Grown 2pm

David Byrne, like fellow New York transplant David Bowie, has reached a well-deserved apex in his career. After eight post-Talking Heads solo outings, the eccentric composer, songwriter, artist, and world music entrepreneur has transcended the inconsistencies of his previous efforts and created a genuinely moving and wickedly fun record. Like Bowie's Heathen and Reality, Grown Backwards is a mature work by an icon who has come to terms with his past, present, and future, and there's a joy in the simple act of creativity here that gives even the heaviest of subject matter an effervescent charm…

"Mike" Sanchez is a rhythm and blues singer, pianist and songwriter of Spanish-English heritage. Sanchez is known for his work with the Big Town Playboys and Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings, and for his solo career. He is noted for his charismatic on stage presence and his encyclopaedic knowledge of the history and performers of rhythm and blues. Sanchez left the Big Town Playboys in December 1999 and pursued a solo career, although his debut solo album Just A Game was cut and released in 1997 while still with the Big Town Playboys. In 2001 Sanchez became a member of Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings (replacing pianist Gary Brooker).

This 1997 concert marked the first time that vocalist Sheila Jordan and bassist Cameron Brown had performed live as a duo. Nerves aside, they had their Belgian audience captivated from the opening of the set. Jordan improvises much like a horn with her interesting choices of notes as she sings the lyrics to standards like "The Very Thought of You," while Brown is also a superb musician, comping perfectly for her and launching on inventive solo flights of his own.

Pulsing Afro-Latin roots and UK jazz combine on Grown, the latest album by London-based quintet Waaju, released via Olindo Records. Fusing dexterous hand-percussion, hypnotic guitar riffs and soaring melodies, Waaju connect a wide range of traditional musics percolating at different corners of the global soundscape yet with a distinctly of-the-moment and British jazz flavour…

With their roots traced in two legendary '60s garage bands, The Outcasts and The Stoics, Homer were without doubt one of the best psychedelic/hard-rock outfits from Texas. Grown in U.S.A. was their only album, released as a private pressing in 1970. Rural psychedelic rock with early prog hints fuelled by stunning lead/dual guitar, melodic vocals and occasional mellotron. The 2002 CD reissue on Akarma adds two tracks from a non-LP 1970.

Rattlemouth is Richmond, Virginia's band. Featuring the saxophones of Danny Finney, the angular rhythm section of Robbie Kinter (drums) and Wayne O'Bryan (bass), and the guitar of Stephen Williams. The sax and bass are dominating here, going berserk at times, and more subtle in other instances. Sometimes going more towards jazz-rock, and in other tracks towards a more disjointed and adventurous path. Comparisons have been made to French RIO band Etron Fou. The music has a kind of groovy feel to it; maybe not music to dance to, but definitely music to move to and enjoy.
Fourth album four years after previous album was released. From very first moments you hear very solid sax and supporting jazz-rock band…