Shawn’s musical background goes way back to the mid 90s when he was signed to Gilles Peterson’s Talkin’ Loud label. Probably best known for the uplifting hit ‘Happiness’ via the Ashley Beedle remix (although I always thought the orginal was the better version), he has found a home at Ubiquity Records with his Ping Pong Orchestra and Miles Of Styles is their seventh album together.

How come Lee is so prolific? Well his orchestra is mainly just him as he’s a multi-instrumentalist with his own massive collection of instruments. Putting the world elements into this travelling ‘document of sound’ he manages to play the Gu-zheng (a Chinese zither), a Steel Drum (from the Caribbean), a Balafone (from Africa), a Harmonium and Tablas (India), Hurdy Gurdy and Harpsichord (European), a Guitarron (Mexico), a Churango (Bolivia) and a Waterphone (from the USA.) Not all at once of course; and he sings! The only instruments he doesn’t manage to master are the flute and saxophone (as provided by Andy Ross, the son of jazz saxophonist Ronnie Ross) and the trumpet (Dominic Glover, who featured on Incognito’s Bees + Things + Flowers).

If you’re familiar with the work of Lee’s PPO, you’ll know that its a funky, soulful, Latin, pop, rock, cinematic combination and ideally suited to this worldwide trip (see track titles). There are a few that don’t comply with the naming convention concept, notably ‘Great Russell Street’, but as this WC1 address is the home of the British Museum, if you have a pint in the Museum Tavern, you’ll see that the world will come to you over a period of time.

You can split this album up three ways. The dance/upbeat tracks like ‘Punjabi Lullaby’, ‘Brazilian Bubble’ (a good one for fans of ‘Berimbau’ as last covered by Jackson Conti, (Afro) Lightning Head styled ‘Lagos Calling’ and the racy ‘Tokyo Dancer’; great flute on this one even if it has a hint of 70s porn about it). And talking of which, there’s the more cinematic tracks, especially, the indo-chill of ‘Gt. Russell St’, the film theme ‘Dinosaur Island’ and the Bullitt of a ‘Heist In Helsinki’ (long version required). The rest fall somewhere better the two like the (Dub) Lightning Head styled ‘Bathtub Dub’ and the soft-rock soul of ‘San Diego’.

Lee’s previous album, Voices & Choices got picked up by the TV show Damages and his work has also been used on movies, film trailers and commercials. Like a one man Library Music company, is he too clever for his own good? I wouldn’t say that but even if there are no surprises here, this is an album to keep coming back to as you keep hearing new favourites. Currently it’s the big-band jazz-funk of ‘Italy 73’, erm.., no it’s ‘Ciao Bruno’; Oh! you see what I mean. Great album.

Reviewed: Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra - Miles Of Styles (Ubiquity Records)
Cat. No. URCD 228 Release date: June 2008
Tracklisting:
1 Punjabi Lullaby featuring Kiren Lee
2 Brazilian Bubble featuring Andrea Monteiro
3 Great Russell Street
4 Lagos Calling
5 Mela D
6 Bathtub Dub
7 Prague Rock
8 Parisian Glam Slam
9 Italy 73 featuring Stephen Large (Piano)
10 Ciao Bruno
11 Dinosaur Island
12 Heist In Helsinki
13 Tokyo Dancer
14 Mystery Train
15 Phoenix Firebird
16 San Diego
17 Daddy Funky
18 Chinese Chillin’
19 Fly First
20 Greekout

Links
www.shawnlee.net
www.myspace.com/shawnleemusic
www.ubiquityrecords.com
The British Museum. Great Russell Street London WC1B 3DG Tel: +44 (0)20 7580 1788 Fax: +44 (0)20 7323 8614 E-mail: Web: www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
Bullitt (1968) With Steve McQueen, Robert Vaughn, Jacqueline Bisset www.imdb.com