Jazz collector and guru Marcus Hacker of Spinning Wheel Records fame has collected 14 of the rarest, hottest tracks from the history of European jazz, easy listening, soul, funk and bossa. There's nary a dud on here… nary a one. The guy really knows his stuff and you can hear it. This is the first time on CD for all of these tracks too, no less.
The album opens with the super-kitschy "Sara" by The Voices - it sounds a bit like The Free Design covering the Spiderman theme. Would have fit nicely on an old Bond movie.
Grupo Veneno kicks down some serious Brazilian vibes on "Guarana-Guarana". This sounds like it could have been on one of the David Byrne comps. Hard to believe they were a German band. Insane funky Wurlitzer pianos, killer flutes... This track kills.
The Earthquakers' "Soul Samba" sounds an awful lot like my memory of "Tighten Up". A hot-sounding chick breaking it down like James Brown with lots of grunts and 'Unggghhh's over some super-tight horns and super-funky guitars. Totally bizarre bass breaks and rhythmic problems take this into kitsch territory. You know you love it.
On "Drift", The Heinz Kiessling Orchestra proves that Europeans had a hard time hiding their classical roots; a disco-dancing track with a distinctly classical orchestra string section. Kiessling was a German film composer and it shows.
One-name wonder Wendy gets devilishly funky to the freaky beats of the Nolan Ranger Orchestra on jazz classic "Fever". I've got to point out once again that all these tracks are rare as rare gets and this one is probably the rarest of the bunch. After scooping this album at a record fair 10 years ago, Hacker himself has been unable to find out anything about this track or the mysterious Wendy and her band. Weird clavinet on top of super-sixties reverb-drenched surf guitar riffs that sound like they just jumped out of Mohammed Rafi's "Jan Pechehaan Ho", you know, the one from Ghost World. What a vamp that Wendy was. Sexy stuff!
Herbie Hancock's "Chameleon" gets an ace jazz-funk treatment, Netherlands style, courtesy of the Kaatee Frits Quartet. Beautiful trumpet solos fly over scrumptious Rhodes parts and super funky bass. Like "Soul Samba", this track also suffers from some rhythmic issues and kitschy percussion touches like water bells and some rather funny Latin percussion. This is so destined for a cop show soundtrack.... makes me want to throw some crooks up against a squad car and throw cuffs on 'em. Ya dig?
Greece puts in its two cents on "I Mimi" a sexy boogie by Idili Tsaliki. The greasy as hell bass lines are a hip-hop wet dream, and they're countered with superbly weird wah-wah guitars... The lady singer sounds more Brazil than Greece. Gorgeous!
Swegas turn in a track that bears similarities to the "Tighten Up" feel of "Soul Samba" . Disco-funky guitars with some seriously bizarre Latin percussion and a killer horn section that sounds like it jumped right off of Hot Rats. Killer Rhodes pianos again. Papa likes! Halfway through, a crazy psychedelic singer kicks in and the band starts speeding up like crazy. I can't tell if they're trying to build excitement or just having a hard time staying in the groove. Delicious!
Catch Up II deliver the most smoking track on the CD, "End of the Beginning of the End": 70's style jazz with the kind of synth sounds that Boards of Canada would sell their souls for. Smoking!
The biggest name artist on the CD, Chet Baker appears here with the Boto Brasilian Quartet. Very nice, super smooth trumpet lines on top of a wicked Cuban/Brazilian groove of acoustic pianos, fretless bass, and driving samba drums. Oh, wait, there's the perfect Rhodes piano solo to convince the unbelievers!
Hacker brings us out of the world of vintage vinyl and into the modern day with "Carrousel", a wonderful track from Hipnosis. You'd never know this was recorded in 2004 from the sound of this track, it fits in perfectly on this compilation. Gorgeous female vocals and great sax that recalls smooth masters like Paul Desmond and Stan Getz. Very nice! This track is going to make you want to hear more of Hipnosis... I guess you could say that the sound is hypnotic... and indeed Hacker has released two Hipnosis full-lengths on Perfect Toy.
If you could even find any of these tracks on vinyl you'd choke on the price – these are all in the area of $500.... And if you did pick them up you'd wear them out pretty quick, they're all so fun and funky. Fortunately, Hacker's gone to all the trouble for you with Jazz Toys. Highly recommended!
