Aaa Party it up

Without doubt Last Dinner Party will be the sound of 2024. Their debut album Prelude To Ecstasy is released via Island Records. It was produced by James Ford in London, and features the breakthrough singles, “Nothing Matters”, “Sinner”, and “My Lady Of Mercy”.

What a shame that Wilton Felder and Wayne Henderson didn't have enough confidence in their legendary trombone/sax chemistry to feature it in the forefront more. Instead they relegate themselves (and the jumpy, soulful groove tracks behind them) to supporting roles behind not simply overtly commercial vocals but super-cheesy ones at that. On "Keep That Same Old Feeling," they tarnish a sharp horn tradeoff with pointless female vocals that remind us we're "jamming with the Jazz Crusaders." Henderson himself hurts a hip new arrangement of "(You've Got) Personality" by singing the lead himself, while "Party Joint" wastes a cool, marching brass sound with a repetitive vocal line that sounds like it came from a bad 70s funk record.

The Robert Shaw recordings on this Document Records CD features a selection of Mac McCormick recordings, live concert recordings, radio sessions and the recording by Ben Conroy, on a reel-to-reel recorder at a house party of his making, in 1971. The party went on for at least 4 hours, capturing a whole evening with Robert Shaw, his music and many personal recollections of his earlier performing years.
By the time he was a teenager, Robert Shaw would slip away from the farm to hear Jazz musicians play in the clubs and roadhouses in and around Houston. As soon as he was able Robert sought out a piano teacher and paid for the lessons out of his own earnings…