VARIOUS ARTISTS
Heavy Flute: Funky Flute Grooves
From The 60s & 70s (Label M)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

---

From the new label of legendary jazz producer Joel Dorn (Atlantic Records and, more recently, 32 Records) comes this sweet collection of jazz flute performances by some of the biggest names he's worked with. And guess what: he's worked with all the biggies. Yusef Lateef, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Hubert Laws, Charles Lloyd, Herbie Mann, David "Fathead" Newman and Leo Wright are all here presenting everything from mellow to mind boggling, all of it tied together by one common factor: groove. Groove so deep you could slide down it for miles and so dreamy you know you'll land gently. Label M's planned forte is live recordings, so it's a bit of a surprise that only Kirk's "One Ton" is an actual live recording. Details. This is a wonderful single-disc collection with ten tracks that give proof of the flute's place in jazz music, and that is, after all, something that is debated frequently. For those of you who could care less about such arguments, suffice to say that this is a float-you-away listening experience you'll be happy to have.

TRACK LIST:

Herbie Mann: Comin' Home Baby * David "Fathead" Newman: The Thirteenth Floor * Yusef Lateef: Nubian Lady * Hubert Laws: Let Her Go * Rahsaan Roland Kirk: Ain't No Sunshine * Leo Wright: The Wiggler * Charles Lloyd: Sombrero Sam * Rahsaan Roland Kirk: One Ton * Yusef Lateef: EBoness * Herbie Mann: Push Push

© 2000 - DJ Johnson