Richard Stanton

This album is billed as 'acid jazz', and if that's defined by hard-funkin' horns combined with modern beats, then this is certainly it. But it certainly doesn't fall into the usual image of acid jazz, as being sort of mellow and ambient. This is anything but mellow; in fact, it's easily the most lively of the JB Horns albums. Part of the reason the formula works so well here is that the drum programs are fortified with traditional funky instruments like the clavinet and Fender Rhodes. And Maceo himself gets down on the Hammond organ on several occasions in addition to blowing his horn. I would definitely recommend this CD to any Funkateer who loves hearing Maceo, Fred and Pee Wee blow their horns, particularly if they don't mind a little of that hip-hop flavor. It's a little less organic-sounding than their usual works, so jazz-oriented Funkateers might balk at the album's overall sound. It's slick, but not so slippery that you can't get both hands on the funk.