The latest CD Reviews from Graham Radley:

John McCusker et al - “Under One Sky” - Navigator3
This is a vocal and instrumental suite by John McCusker, performed by a brilliant line up of Britain’s finest musicians.  Originally commissioned by the PRS Foundation, the Scottish Arts Council and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, “Under One Sky” explores the many different traditions, genres and influences at work across the UK folk scene and incorporates them into 7 pieces of music. McCusker’s hand-picked ensemble includes Graham Coxon, Roddy Woomble, Julie Fowlis,  John Tams and Jim Causley featuring amongst the singers, while the instrumentalists include Iain MacDonald, Andy Cutting, Ian Carr and Emma Reid. Evocative music which  shines especially on ‘S Tusa Thilleas’ sung by Julie Fowlis and ‘Long Time Past/Lavender Hill’ with lead from Roddy Womble. Excellent.

The Tomorrow Band - “2 To get Set” - Rehab Records REH009

Follow up to ‘3 to get ready’ from Chris Bowden, Neil Bullock and Ben Markland which opens with a fine take on Miles Davis’s ‘Freddie The Freeloader’.  Further jazz staples include Antonio Carlos Jobim’s ‘Chega de Saudade and Wayne Shorter’s ‘Isotope as well as a bonus DVD track of Billy Cobham’s ‘Red Baron’.  Great straight ahead playing and whilst it’s not on the wild side the quality glows through and embraces you.

Novalima - “Coba Coba” - Cumbancha CMB CD 9
Coba Coba is an Afro-Peruvian expression akin to ‘Go for it!’ and Novalima do that in all the best ways. The band have at their roots a bedrock of Afro-Peruvian rhythms and melodies which they freely envelop with a mix that incorporates Latin, dub and electronica. Special guests include New Zealand nu-jazz keyboardist Mark de Clive-Lowe and Cuban hip-hop group Obsesión, while producer Toni Economides (Nitin Sawhney and Bugz In The Attic) brings it all together with just the right feel of soulful roots meets edgy grooves.  Have a listen to tracks like ‘Coba Guarango’ and be prepared to be moved. Top stuff.

“African Reggae: Putumayo” - Put287
Tracks from Cote d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, South Africa, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Guinea-Bissau. Ba Cissoko with Tiken Jah Fakoly give us the sweet melodic side of reggae with ‘On Veut Se Marier’ while Majek Fashek’s ‘Man Of Sorrow’ has a real feel of Marley. Very good.

Ry-Co Jazz - “Bon Voyage!!” - Retro022CD

{Rhythme Congolais from Africa aux Antilles (1963-1977)}

Excellent compilation of material covering 1965 to 1977. The band had a core line up of the amazing Jerry Malekani on guitar, Freddie Nkounkou and Mbilia Casino on vocals plus in the earlier days Panda Gracia on bass and then, once they moved onto the French Caribbean, Jean Serge Essous on sax. The music was groundbreaking as they mixed many styles including rumba and soukous and then calypso and reggae.  This of course was glorious music for the dance floor and this collection comes highly recommended.

Bonga - “Bairro” - Lusa Africa 562212 (available from HarmoniaMundi 02087099500)
Superb release from Bonga with a nice balance of moods and rhythms which range from where his native Angolan semba shows influences of morna from the Cape Verde to changing gear so that soukous guides us to the dance floor. Now in his 60’s but this is a real return to earlier form. Recommended.

Binario - “Far Out Recordings” - Far0135

From Ipanema Beach, with a sound that rocks and funks its way through core Brazilian rhythms, with a touch of psychedelic thrown in too but really there’s so much going on here it’s hard to define (in a good way). Binario are a seven piece band that distance themselves well away from all stereotypical notions of Brazilian music and have made a CD that’s distinctly their own sound, I’ll just leave you to ponder what that sound actually is because there’s such a mixture from track to track that you often wonder if it’s a different CD. Well worth checking out.

Feb 06 2009