James Mason - Rhythm of life

James Mason "Rhythm of life" Strange how things work, almost 25 yrs later, the minimalist approach to jazz and funk/soul as defined by the "acid jazz / new grooves" designation suddenly propels James Mason into the "visionary' category- he was doing these things back in the late 70's, as were Roy Ayers, Norman Connors, Lonnie Liston Smith, etc etc...... ( "these things" being Vamps and so -called "killer grooves" that take presidence over fully realized compositions. Sampling seems to me a major issue, it seems with many new fans for the evolution of this style ...) NO SAMPLES HERE, just some like minded musicians puttin down a heavy vibe and playing "off of" one another, "interacting" instead of "interactive", if ya catch mah drift......... JM proved a tough groover, adept at electric keyboards, funky guitar comping, and a "lead guitar" style very much in the 70's jazz/fusion mode. A crack band, featuring the impeccable drums of Michael Walden, and the etherial vocals of Clarice Taylor, (with some guest spots by Philip Woo *piano* and Justo Almario's saxwork)--the session percolates with some firey grooves which meet with some nice modal progressions/ chord voicings that sound far more soulful than much of the sampled fare, you "FEEL" the musics pour from the musicians , pure magic! "Sweet Power..." I believe is a dancehall hit now, and "Good Thing" , "Slick City", the lovely contemplative lyrics of "Dreams", I cant mention now each selection, but the cd runs track to track with pulsations& gesticulations , although the grooves can get a bit frantic on a few cuts.(the 70's were a hectic decade, hehehehe!) Some of the tunes just "die out" at the end as if not the final take,"unfinished" as i said before is the impression i have. ---- but HEY, cant have everything, can you? What has become of James Mason, I think I will take a look , meanwhile , take a "look/listen" to this cd. Cheers Jimbo