Soul Kitchen (2009)

Faith Akin's 2009 comedy Soul Kitchen followed the adventures of a handful of eccentrics and bohemians who operate and patronize a rundown eatery in Germany, and true to the title the film's soundtrack album features plenty of classic soul and R&B tracks, as well as selections from the movie's original score. Soul Kitchen includes numbers by Al Green, Ruth Brown, the Isley Brothers, Dyke & the Blazers, Quincy Jones, and others; the collection also includes vintage reggae from Burning Spear and contemporary German techno and dance music by Deichkind and Solomun & H.O.S.H.

This CD was the first of the "Trip Tease" collections, of which there are three volumes. This is not to be confused with the "Blue Note Trip" series which does include remixes of songs. So, these are the originals, not remixes. The earliest track on here is "I'll Remember April," a 1953 piece by Lee Konitz & Gerry Mulligan. There are a handful of other tracks from the mid to late 1950s, including Kenny Dorham's fabulous "Afrodesia" from 1955 or Chet Baker's & Bud Shank's "Jimmy's Theme" from 1956, but most of the material on these discs comes from the fertile 1960s and 1970s era, when many Blue Note artists fused elements of soul and funk along with traditional jazz.

Compared to the previous Mercy, Mercy, this recording is a lesser effort by the Buddy Rich big band. However, the outing does have its notable moments, with the key soloists being the young altoist Richie Cole, tenor saxophonist Pat LaBarbera, guitarist David Dana and the drummer/leader. Recorded live at the Whiskey A-Go-Go, some of the songs are stronger than others; a pair of tunes by the Doors sound silly in this context. Highlights include Don Sebesky's "Soul Lady," Bill Holman's "Ruth" and "The Meaning of the Blues."