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It seems to take a little longer for the vinyl to find it’s way to London from southern Italy but Freedom Jazz Dance – Book II is a timely reminder that the Messin’ Around/Shiftless Shuffle crowd don’t need to just dance and listen to 30-year-old records.

This is a class set that includes previously unreleased material by artists outside of the Schema Nicola Conte / Gerardo Frisina pairing and a couple of contributions from acts from Finland that are not even signed to the label. Whether Italian or Finnish contributors, we’re talking real instruments here played by real musicians and there’s only a couple of cover versions. It’s quality throughout.

One of those previously unreleased tracks is the opener, ‘Lead The Way’ by Soulstance. It’s a Horace Silver style jazz dancer with loads of samba attitude. Similar style but quicker, Finland’s Jukka Eskola is clearly influenced by the past on ‘1974’ with a quartet that includes Teppo Mäkynen on drums [for their ‘updated’ stuff, see Teddy Rok Seven].

Staying in Finland, Dalindèo bought out a double a-side ‘Poseidon / Solifer-Lento’ which came out a couple of years ago on Ricky-Tick Records. ‘Solifer-Lento’ is the track included on the album and it’s a great flutey beach jazz shuffle.

Back with the Italians, ‘My Love Samba’ continues the pacey upbeat feel with some great percussion (Sandro De Bellis) and Trumpet (Fabrizio Bosso). This track is written by Cantone, Fedreghini and Bianchi (sounds like a football, F1, cycling celebrity trio) and they also wrote ‘Heroes Of The Conquest’. ‘Stars’ is a Fedreghini and Bianchi colaboration with vocalist Claudia Bernath.

Side D has covers of a Paul Horn tune, ‘Mr. Bond’ and Wayne Shorter’s ‘Yes And No’. Nicola Conte gets in on the production credits to ‘Mr. Bond’ and it’s so authentic. All that’s needed is to add dust in the groove. [Note: Fri - Sat, 20 - 21 Jan, 2006 - Nicola Conte @ Jazz Cafe doors 7pm]

S-Tone Inc’s ‘Some Kind Of Blues’ is a previously unreleased ‘jazz mood instrumental’ version and is out of step (sorry) with the foot dexterity of the rest of the LP.

The original track ‘Freedom Jazz Dance’ has been an inspiration to everyone from Ethnic Heritage Ensemble to Jerry Garcia and, much like this compilation, it’s an attitude to life. Brilliant in all the right departments and an excellent warm up for the egerley anticipated Gerardo Frisina album, The Latin Kick.

Reviewed: Various - Freedom Jazz Dance Book II (Schema) Cat. No. SCLP 402 2xLP Compiled By - Luciano Cantone : Tracklisting:
A1. Soulstance - ‘Lead The Way’ (6:07)
A2. Jukka Eskola - ‘1974’ (7:15)
B1. Luis Ferri - ‘My Love Samba’ (5:26)
B2. Dalindèo - ‘Solifer Lento’ (5:25)
B3. S-Tone Inc. - ‘Some Kind Of Blues’ (Jazz Mood Instrumental) (2:50)
C1. The Invisible Session - ‘Heroes Of The Conquest’ (6:20)
C2. Paolo Fedreghini & Marco Bianchi - ’ Stars’ (6:47)
C3. Quartetto Moderno - ‘Mr. Bond’ (6:27)
C4. Quartetto Moderno - ‘Yes And No’ (6:36)

Links:
Schema www.ishtar.it also enjoy Various - Freedom Jazz Dance (Schema) Cat. No. SCCD 364
www.dalindeo.com
Freedom Jazz Dance Lyrics: [none] Music: Eddie Harris In Sound, 1965 to Eddie Harris Quartet “This was one of the legendary tenor saxophonist’s final recording sessions before his death on November 5, 1996. Recorded in 1994 with a marvellous quartet, Freedom Jazz Dance is a portrait of a musical titan with his creative muse in full bloom” -Ethnic Heritage Orchestra “An instrumental played by Jerry Garcia with Merl Saunders, including in the band “Legion Of Mary”
“WOW! YOU WERE THERE AT SHIFTLESS SHUFFLE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL …