Please note this is an old page and Fly Global Music has now moved. Please follow this link and search for the entry in the new site.

This collabortion between TM Juke and The Jack Baker Trio (who happens to be just Mr. Jack Baker in the singular) came about when they were on tour with the Alice Russell band; but more of Ms. Russell later.

So well connected are these guys they’ve got one of the hottest vocalist going on ‘That Gut Feeling’, Ms Andreya Triana. She’s already been on Natural Self’s ablum The Art Of Vibration, Flying Lotus’ Los Angeles and Aaron Jerome’s Time to Rearrange. ‘That Gut Feeling’ comes from the soul and is one of the best tracks on this album if only for squeezing a bit of a ‘Caravan’ snippet into this New Orleans inspired groove.

And it seems that it’s Jack Baker that has the eye for the ladies as the “percussionist extraordinaire” got to known Andreya whilst playing in the Bonobo Live Band where he also met Kathrin is the band’s live frontwoman of choice).

Funk and afro boogie are to the fore early on with the unrivalled vocals of Alice Russell on ‘Spread It On’ with a classy flute solo; this is going to be another classic Ms. Russell track on someone elses CD.

Kathrin De Boer has been hugely impressive with her performances in Belleruche (with a new album The Express coming soon) and another one that Mr. Jerome featured on Time to Rearrange. And I think you’ll find ‘Rolling Stone To The Landslide’ is a bit of a grower (more flute here).

Not content with all that there’s some great old skool horny go-go ‘Echoes From The Surface’ manic Hot Brass 8 guys on ‘Heads High(er)’ in full-on heavy heavy marching sound (watch out Paul White) with a Latin beat that goes calypso! What is that tune!!! Looking for something different for your Bailie Funk section, this is it.

‘The Train’ is the one that’s in a mellow funk groove with serious horn and percussion; thinking Natural Self Afro-influences; yeah! (also see ‘Fortune Favours The Bold’). And it just doesn’t stop as ‘Omak Besar (Big Waves)’ is more Latin funkiness and it’s a monster; Shiftless Shuffle or what? BRILLIANT! As Russ Dewbury is now resident in the land of Oz and the Jazz Room is now more (for the time being anyway), this track is a testament to the Brighton scene and all that’s best about it.

‘Swamp Ska’s’ is great twist as they get funky ska reggae that’s for the boys of the Arhanage; stick that in ya dubstep. By the way Yes King (of remix could do some serious damage here - or perhaps it’s perfect as it is) and the CD set ends with a bit of an odd one that’s more soundtrack theme of a Morricone-Barry period - one for the Under The Sun funky surfers.

Don’t write this album off as a couple of muso mates getting together with a bunch of chums for a laugh. They may have had a laugh but this is serious album for you groovers and shakers of booty - get down to this!

Reviewed: TM Juke & The Jack Baker Trio - Boto And The Second Liners (Tru Thoughts) Cat. No. TRU174 Release date: 8th September 2008
Tracklisting
01. Portion Of A Recording
02. That Gut Feeling feat. Andreya Triana
03. Echoes From The Surface
04. Spread It On feat. Alice Russell
05. Heads High(er)
06. The Train
07. Omak Besar (Big Waves)
08. Rolling Stone To Landslide feat. Kathrin deBoer
09. Fortune Favours The Bold
10. Party Favours feat. Gecko Turner
11. Swamp Ska’s
12. Yeah The Crab!

Links
www.tmjuke.co.uk
www.myspace.com/tmjuke
www.myspace.com/jackbakertrio
www.andreyatriana.com
www.myspace.com/andreyatriana
www.alicerussell.com
www.myspace.com/alicerusselluk
www.myspace.com/belleruche
www.geckoturner.com
myspace.com/geckoturner