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Recently the recipient of a remix treatment by Kiwi Mark De Clive-Lowe for his prolific work with the legendary Impulse! record label, Chico continues to command the utmost love and respect from past masters and contemporaries alike.

The gathered ensemble, Chico’s band ‘Euphoria’ comprises of Cary Denigris on guitar, Paul Ramsey on fender bass, Evan Schwam on flute, tenor and soprano sax, Karolina Strassmayer on flute, alto and soprano sax Andrew Hadro on flute, clarinet, alto and barritone sax and Jeremy Carlstedt on percussion, who collectively carve out a formidable groove. Also collaborating on selected cuts is one time Hamilton band trombonist George Bohanon, Jimmy Cheatham, Bill Henderson and Arthur Lee of ‘Love’ fame.

Opener ‘Mr Hamilton’ is sleek aural seduction and transports the listener back to the heavenly days of jazz. Reinterpreted for today, ‘Ain’t She Sweet’ is jazz-funk par excellence and features deft vocal scats courtesy of Henderson. The pace goes down a notch or two with the hypnotising rhythms of ‘Yeh Yeh’ a tribute to Carlos Santana, and the inviting slo-mo Latin tinged ‘Don’t Be That Way’, with Henderson again on crooning and scat duties. So whether it’s raw funk or sultry vibes five decades on, Hamilton continues to make progressive strides in this thing called jazz.

Still a contender.