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Organist Lonnie Smith has a history of tribute recordings, including two honoring Jimi Hendrix, and one paying homage to John Coltrane. Those featured or co-billed guitarist John Abercrombie and tended to be more fusion affairs in the Larry Young mode. For his venture into the Beck repertoire he has brought aboard sax legend Dave "Fathead" Newman for a decidedly funkier approach. The set leans heavily on the young Hansen's Odelay tunes but manages to also include a smattering of songs from each of the artist's recordings. The harmonic and melodic limitations of the material are evident, but so too are its blues and funk roots. Beck's songwriting is all groove, attitude, and atmosphere making it ideal for the organ trio context. Drummer Lafrae Sci helps deepen the pocket, while triple-threat Doug Munro thickens the atmosphere as arranger/producer, and adds to the attitude with his tasteful and witty guitar work. These grease-meisters turn "New Pollution" into a stone shuffle, make "Devil's Haircut" more satanic, and often make the original recordings literally pale by comparison. As the honoree might say, this disc is "Where It's At." --Michael Ross

Product Description

Two historic jazz figures, Dr. Lonnie Smith & David 'Fathead' Newman, brilliantly celebrate the border between the insane & the funky revolution by performing the coolest soul, funk & rare groove renditions of Beck's greatest hits featuring 'Paper Tiger', 'Tropicalia', 'Nobody's Fault But My Own, & more. 11 tracks. Scufflin Records. 2003., ISBN13: B000099T4I ISBN10: B000099T4I Material Type: audioCD