Review: Dynamite Cuts' latest extra-special double "45" mines ones of the earliest albums from soul and funk legends Earth, Wind & Fire, a 1971 set that was notably more psychedelic in sound than many of their more celebrated later releases. Opener "C'mon Children" is fiery, weighty and driving in the style of San Francisco funk-rock heavyweights "Tower of Power", while "Bad Tune" more than lives up to its title in a "bad meaning good" way (it also includes some crazy solos, which is no bad thing). Over on disc two, "Help Somebody" is an insanely up-tempo, horn-heavy Boogaloo style romp, while "Momet of Truth" is a low-down funk number straight out of the top drawer.
Review:
The Dynamite Cuts 45s series is back with another of their funk fuelled double 7" packs of wonder. FBI were Funk Band Inc, the UK's original jazz funk outfit back in the seventies. This double 45rpm was originally put out in 1977 and has since become a hugely in demand collector's item. The self-titled opener is a languid limb-loosener to open up with Parliament style bass riffs and popping horns, then 'Talking About Love' picks up the pace for a high seeped funk chase with seductive sax work and 'Bad Deal' slows down once more to a more libidinous vibe. Bright Rhodes solos and buttery vocal seduction defines closer 'Love Love Love.'
Review: Dynamite Cuts is one of the most aptly named labels in the game. Its latest releases have focused on The Last Poets with 'Tribute To Obabi' droopy on the same day as this one to kick off 2023 in style. As per that 45rpm, this one features a special 7" edit of a longer tune in 'Blessed Are Those Who Struggle'. It's laced with musings on oppression and slavery with funky drumming and speak-sung vocals making for a compelling mood. On the A-side is the Afro-jazz of ''It's A Trip' complete with unique vocal styles and funky basslines.
Review: Occasionally a single comes along that shows off a contemporary group's samplework. 'Hustler's Convention' from Dynamite Cuts is one. This new 7" recalls funk supergroup Lightnin Rod's album of the same name - originally released in 1973, it is renowned for being one of the major influences on hip-hop, bringing a sociopolitical commentary to black music at the time. Here the original track 'Sport', named after one of the album's protagonist hustlers, is blended with the B-side 'Four Bitches Is What I Got', which builds a smoke-filled narrative story involving poker tables and underworld czars around the funk backing.
Review: While Last Poets are rightly regarded as the 'godfathers of rap', others would insist that Hustlers Convention - a 1973 solo album from member Jalal Nuriddin under the Lightnin' Rod alias - had more influence on the birth of hip-hop. In part, that's down to the funk backing he received on the album from his chosen backing bands, which included the mighty Kool & The Gang. Here, Dynamite Cuts prove the point by offering two killer cuts from the set on 7" for the very first time. A-side 'Sport' is a Blaxploitation style delight - all ear-catching horn motifs, shuffling funk breaks, weighty bass, wah-wah guitar and languid spoken word vocals - while 'Four Bitches Is What I Got' sees our hero make merry over a more stripped-back take on the same backing track.
Review: Dynamite Cuts back up their name once more with another red hot 7" of pure dancefloor gold. This one brings tufter four cuts from the inimitable Roy Ayers Ubiquity. The opener 'Hummin' In The Sun' will have you feeling the rays on your face as his signature percussion and vibes work brings a soulful groove alive. 'The Fuzz' is a more tender and intimate soul sound for late-night romancers and 'I Can't Help Myself' pics up the pace again with some funky drums and warm melodies while 'Love' has a conversational style and smooth groove.
Review: Frank Strazzeri was a versatile musician who played piano, Moog synthesizer and ARP Solina string synthesizer on these tunes with help from Sam Most on tenor saxophone and flute and other input from Bobby Shew, Harvey Newmark and his brother Steve Strazzeri on drums. All four sides fo this double 7" are airy and jazzy, full of spring time vibes and gently persuasive grooves. This is the first time since first release on Catalyst Records in 1976 that they have been reissued.
Review: Initially released in 1976, New York jazz artist Frank Strazzeri's LP 'After the Rain' saw the saxophonist-turned-pianist string together immaculate Rhode grooves, flute passages and intimate, funky bass lines in this jazz-funk spectacular. Almost 50 years on, this numbered, extremely limited collector's piece on 2 stunning blue 7"s housed in a gatefold selects 3 of the greatest tracks from the album. From the Rhode-fuelled relaxing sounds of 'After the Rain', to the brassy 'Blue Dawn' and finally, a disc dedicated to the progressive masterpiece 'Cloudburst'. This gatefold is a much-needed reintroduction of Strazzeri's work back into the jazz conversation, backed up by the talents of the legendary flutist Sam Most and jazz trumpet player Bobby Shew. Jazz collectors, especially fans of the New York piano and lounge scenes, this is for you.
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