George Duke: The Aura Will Prevail (1975)

I’m probably like a lot of people in that I came to George Duke, the incredible keyboardist, composer, funk master and man about town through Frank Zappa and his indelible 70s unit. I had heard there was a solo album from Duke where, due to contractual obligations, Zappa took the assumed name of Obdewl’l X in order to contribute guitars to the album. It took a while to find a good copy of 1974’s Feel, and in the intervening time I came across a pair of albums released in 1975 that further stretched my perception of the man’s talent. 50 years seems like a great reason to jump back into them, so we’ll start with the first one released that year, The Aura Will Prevail.

ChrisFebruary 10, 2025February 10, 20251 Comment

Kohsuke Mine: Sunshower (1976)

What’s in a name, anyway? My CD lists him as Kohsuke Mine, but Apple Music lists him as Kousuke Mine. Oh, and Wikipedia lists him as Kosuke Mine, dropping the first “u” and complicating things even further. Maybe it doesn’t matter (maybe absolutely nothing matters, as I sit here typing this at 5am the morning after the presidential election, numb and devastated – you do you, though), because in the end it’s the music that matters, and I was surprised over the last few days that Sunshower, the saxophonist’s 1976 funk-driven fusion went from a light diversion to a quick favorite.

ChrisNovember 6, 2024November 6, 2024Leave a comment

Norio Maeda & All-Stars: Rock Communication (1970)

A quick one before we jump back into The Flower Kings series. Sometimes you just know something is going to work for you. I read the description for Rock Communication, the 1970 album from composer Norio Maeda and was instantly intrigued. More and more I’ve been drawn to how other countries and cultures interpret and absorb more western expressions of music. Finally available in NorthAmerica on CD (rather than a pricey import), Rock Communication excels at the Japanese soul jazz that was percolating in the region at the time, and recalls to my ears some of the prime arrangements Zappa was doing in the 70s as well as the jazz-inflected scores David Holmes composed for Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s series. If that appeals to you, this is going to down down just fine…

ChrisJuly 15, 2024Leave a comment

Vinyl

Gary Clark Jr: JPEG RAW (2024)

We’re wrapping up my Best of 2024 (so far) series with another artist not content to remain within a proscribed genre or form. And no, I’m not talking about the latest from Beyoncé (though I could and will because it’s also one of my favorites this year): I’m talking about the guitar powerhouse that is Gary Clark Jr. and his new boundary pushing album JPEG RAW. I don’t think Clark’s ever been content to sit as just another guitar prodigy, and like his previous banger This Land his latest sees the artist continue to embrace his influences, even having them accompany him on the album.

ChrisMay 5, 20241 Comment

Vinyl

Brittany Howard: What Now (2024)

Had to take a small break for a number of personal things including college visits and a funeral, but the truth is I would’ve needed a break, anyway. I started this review of What Now, the sophomore solo release from former Alabama Shakes guitarist/vocalist Brittany Howard almost a week ago and came to a realization: here is an album I love but can’t quite explain why (yet). It’s a thick, often murky, challenging album, not straight-forward at all and the more I listen the more I believe it’s this challenge, this refusal to play it simple, forcing the listener to really dig in if they want to “get it” that makes me fall hard for What Now. I don’t know if I’ll come closer to “understanding” with this review, but I’m gonna try.

ChrisMay 4, 20242 Comments

Vinyl

The Time: The Time (1981)

We’re writing when the feeling is right, not on the daily #mayvinylchallenge schedule. Couple that with taking care of a sick teenager all weekend and I needed a break. Thankfully Day 8 of the challenge asks for a record that makes you move or dance, is really just an excuse to break out the eponymous debut from The Time. Whether you take it as an extension of Prince’s prodigious output or a thing on its own, you can’t deny the slinky, funk pop fun The Time is able to dole out time and time again.

ChrisMay 9, 2023Leave a comment

Consuming the Tangible

We are what we consume

Tag: funk

George Duke: The Aura Will Prevail (1975)

Kohsuke Mine: Sunshower (1976)

Norio Maeda & All-Stars: Rock Communication (1970)

Gary Clark Jr: JPEG RAW (2024)

Brittany Howard: What Now (2024)

The Time: The Time (1981)