Inner Fire

SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA: Inner Fire
Strut, 2014

WORLD/FUNK/JAZZ – This is hot. Another great disc from this globalized outfit out of Canada. They sound like a larger group than they are, with heavy, tuff-strutting grooves and a retro production style that often, to my ears, recalls 1970s action films set in exotic locales. Mostly instrumental, but vocals are FCC clean.

Try any track! Fo’s Picks: 2, 4, 5, 6, 7

1. 1:15 – slow instrumental fanfare, sounds like an afropop kung-fu movie
2. 4:12 – cool march continues the afrofunk-meets-asia vibe, jazzy breaks
3. 4:03 – the single: straight-up afrofunk groove, hot flute & sax, group vocals
4. 5:13 – great groove: echoing retro sound gives it a 70s soundtrack feel
5. 4:15 – relaxed orchestral-soul stroll, very nice with vibes & sax breaks
6. 5:07 – hot latin dance track: quick vocals, hot solo breaks, hits it hard!
7. 4:59 – back to the soundtrack-y feel, a relaxed but tough global strut
8. 4:17 – cool lopsided clockwork groove, saxes blow hard, piano rolls
9. 5:52 – real nice bass/percussion led groove, but the lyrics underwhelm
10. 0:46 – meditative piano/vibes/drum outro

[ Fo ] - 17 April 2014