Since Antoine Rajon brought us the Thunderbird Service’s cover of ‘The Creator Has A Master Plan’ (with Anne Wirz’ ‘Mother Of The Future’ on Heavenly Sweetness, see review HERE), interest in Mr. Lancaster has continued to grow.

Not only do we get Byard, the band includes African guitarist François Nyombo (Lafayette Afro Rock Band), French pianist François Tusques (Le Nouveau Jazz) with Jef Gilson ‘disciples’ Del Rabenja (tenor sax), Sylvain Marc (drums) and Zizi Japhet (bass).

So Lancaster’s jazz with r’n’b Philly roots gets transplanted to the afo-jazz melting pop of 1970s Paris and this is just one of nine albums he recorded there. Funny Funky Rib Crib is the most sort after and it’s easy to hear why.

Two tracks in particular that feature Nyombo are exceptional; the soulful-blues of ‘Work And Play’ and the last track ‘Dogtown’. If you’re a frustrated jazz guitar fan, you’ll love ‘Dogtown’ as its got that James Blood Ulmer’s ‘Are You Glad To Be In America?’ rough-cut vibe to it and it’s a shame its one of those with a fade out ending.

The funky-jazz ‘Just Test’ opens the album but the core piece ‘Rib Crib’ gets split over the two sides. This is the timber that builds Carlos Niño’s ark at the crack of (see Dawn. Funny Funky Rib Crib and is so much more than mere ‘fusion’; avant-guarde free jazz Afro funk soul with spirit.

‘Just Test’ came out as a 7” last month with the non-album track ‘Us’ which is another corker (comes out in the original 7” artwork!) And that’s what this album leaves you with, a huge desire for more of the same as it raises your spirits (which I suppose is what any album supposed to do). Which is lucky really as together with the Hal Singer & Jef Gilson Soul Of Africa and Jef Gilson Avec Lloyd Miller & Hal Singer Free Spirits that have already been re-issued on Kindred Spirits, they’ve got themselves another winner here.

Reviewed: Byard Lancaster - Funny Funky Rib Crib (Kindred Spirits) Cat. No.KS RE 4 LP Release date: 25th September 2008
Tracklisting:
A1 Just Test (3:09)
A2 Work And Pray (6:30)
A3 Rib Crib I (9:41)
B1 Rib Crib II (9:06)
B2 Loving Kindness (3:40)
B3 Dogtown (7:23)

Links:
www.kindred-spirits.nl
Gilles Peterson :: 18th September 2008 :: All Winners 2
Carlos Niño ft. Lil Si - ‘The Replenish’ (Shaman Work)
Karl Hector & The Malcouns - ‘Sahara Swing’ (Now-Again)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rive_Gauche
www.myspace.com/fourtetkieranhebden