Now, if you heard Gilles Peterson (ahead of the game as usual) play the title track ‘Butterfly’ the other week, this album is already on your must have list. In fact, it’s so good you’re thinking our three heroes of jazz fusion have got on Eumir Deodato as the producer.

Well, I’m sure Mr. D could have done a job, but Joe Davis has done better than that as he’s brought in David Brinkworth (aka 50% of Harmonic 33) to co-produce the album. As a genuine fan and master of the dancefloor Latin groove himself, an idea of David’s gets ‘metamorphosed’ into the finished article as a thing of musical beauty in full of tropical colour; and that’s so FLY.

And talking of which, ‘New Dawn’ is like the first rays of samba sun greeting you in the morning; albeit it’s not a samba. Other downtempo tracks and the dreamy ‘Morning’ (a great track to wake up to) and ‘Next Summer In Rio’ - even if they have got a bit of the ‘Mike Post’ theme tune about them. ‘Meu Doce Amigo’ is a tribute to Alex Malheiros’ son who passed away in 2003 and he must have been really cool judging by this track (not forgetting daughter Sabrina who has her own musical career).

The title track in a cover version of a Herbie Hancock tune from 1974 from the album Thrust , that’s the one with the cover that’s mostly purple with Herbie in a spaceship thing. Apparently it was Joe Davis’ idea to cover this and bring onboard Arthur Encore Verocai with the string arrangements; good call Joe, we salute you.

And as Mr. Shiftless Shuffle Hancock is on our minds, ‘Hole In One’ has some filthy 70s synth that’s got the modern disco feel; I thought this was you and it’s going to turn heads. You’ve got to play it and it ups tempo and moogs itself into a frenzy (nooooooooooooooo don’t fade out!)

‘Triagem’ is ‘trade mark’ Azymuth fusion jazz with those keys, wicked bass and Mamao. As such, you might overlook it. Don’t! Put it on repeat and absorb every millisecond of the essence of Azymuth. Another one for the jazz-funkateers that still want to groove on, ‘Os Caras La’ is a mighty tune. A track organically created by Jose Roberto Bertrami’s melodic keyboard, Alex brings the funky bass and Mamao (he of Jackson Conti’s Sujinho) comes in with the percussion and chorus. Want some more, ‘Catitu’ is as spiky as the pig that it’s named after (Mamao on form as ever) and the ‘Avenida Rio Branco’ makes up the smooth sax with some cuica (boy , is that an instrument harder to play than it looks)

I don’t suppose they’ve got the strings coming onto tour with them, check dates below but a The Bays/Heritage Orchestra style gig with Azymuth in the future would be an awesome event (Joe, are you reading this?)

Azymuth have been producing albums for Far Out now for 14 years. This is now their eight and whilst we have loved all the others; especially the ‘re-interpretation’ album Brazilian Soul from 2004, Butterfly is as fresh as a new band with the bonus of exquisite commoradary and excellent musicianship. Don’t be surprised if people start proclaiming this as their best yet. Another new dawn.

Reviewed: Azymuth - Butterfly (Far Out Recordings) Cat. No. FARO134 Release date: 13th October 2008
Tracklisting
1. Butterfly
2. Os Cara La
3. Meu Doce Amigo
4. Caititu
5. Avenida Rio Branco
6. New Dawn
7. Triagem
8. Hole In One
9. Morning
10. Next Summer In Rio

European October 2008 Tour
16th - Babylon, Istanbul, Turkey
17th - Canal 93 Bibigny Musiques, Bobigy, France
18th - New Morning, Paris, France
19th - Komedia, Brighton, UK
20th - The Croft, Bristol, UK
22nd - Jazz Café, London, UK
23rd - Dr. Philips Zaal, Den Hague, Netherlands
24th - Centro de Arte Caja de Buros, Burgos, Spain

P.S. It wasn’t that long ago I thought I had my top five albums of the year all in place and unchallengeable. I wasn’t banking on Azymuth’s ‘Butterfly’ (is it the year of Bufferflies?) with Solar Apple Quarktette, Madlib, Stee Downes and Byard Lancaster: well I’ve a new top 10 then.

Links
azymuth.net
myspace.com/azymuth
faroutrecordings.com
myspace.com/faroutrecordings
www.eumirdeodato.com
Gilles Peterson :: 25th September 2008 :: DJ Marky Interview & Mix
Azymuth - ‘Butterfly’ (Far Out Recordings)