| "DÉJÀ
VU"I
t's
official: jazz, funk, and soul have gone global. From Tokyo and
Kyoto in Japan, all through Europe, to the United States, west
coast, east coast, and all points in between, the clued-up clubs
and discerning dancefloors are throbbing to the predominantly
black American sounds of the seventies.
The result of this upsurge in interest is that legions of intrepid
collectors have scoured the States in search of those hidden hordes
of vital vinyl, leaving no meat on the bones of any record store,
warehouse or private collection in their path. It is still possible
to find almost any record you desire, but you'll need the right
connections, in the right place, at the right time.
And this compilation is your connnection. Like its predecessor,
Bag Of Goodies, the LP you hold in your hands aims to liberate
a treasure trove of rare, deleted, and downright essential grooves.
Weldon Irvine should have been a superstar. That he is not is
an indictment of the record-buying public's taste rather than
a reflection of his talents. His devoted following amongst today's
clubbers was earned by a string of immaculate LPs, including the
sublime Time Capsule, which, since less than 2000 were ever pressed,
is currently proving notoriously difficult to track down. Time
Capsule is represented here by "Deja Vu", flowing fusion
that builds from mellow foundations into a towering crescendo,
and then starts over again for a double dose of exhilaration.
Weldon, I know you're out there; can we have more like this, please?
Reverend and respected throughout the world, master jazz guitarist
Ivan "Boogaloo Joe" Jones needs no introduction to disciples
of dance music. Taken from his seldon-seen 1975 Sweetback LP,
don't let the title "Confusion" mislead you. Confused
it ain't; driven by that classic combination of incessant organ,
rapid-fire guitar, and some inspired sax breaks, this groove is
full steam ahead for destination dancefloor without pausing for
breath. Jazz-dance heaven.
Cheeky Chuck Carbo's 1970 offering on this LP comes with the highest
credentials, having been written and produced by funk rascal Eddie
Bo. With saucy but soulful vocals, spanking drums and a rasping
production, there's enough breaks here to fill a hospital. Chuck,
when you're funking this good you can be everybody's squeeze.
Previously released only in versions of less than three minutes
long, "Africana", by teenage prodigies The Propositions,
was an all-too-brief burst of effortlessly smooth jazz-funk that
bordered on perfection. Now, after some diligent detective work
by the Luv n' Haight team, the master tapes have been located
and "Africana" is unleashed upon the planet in its full-length
glory. Indispensable, you might say. And you'd be correct.
"Humpty Dump" by the Vibrettes has remained classic
raw funk for decades after the dance of the same name faded into
obscurity. Released at a time when hot pants and flared jeans
were not just a fasion statement but a way of life, "Humpty
Dump" shows no sign of aging, and has become a firm favorite
with the breakbeat crowd for its low, lazy bass and cascading
guitars. Pump up the volume and watch your speakers fall off of
that wall.
Asiko's little-known gem "Hot Black" is a floor-filling
groove that oozes quality, and at last receives the exposure it
deserves on this LP. Tight but loose, safe yet dangerous, and
rougher than a Turkish wrestler with a toothache.
A fitting finale to this compilation is provided by Stone Alliance,
who serve up a mightly slab of "Sweetie Pie". The recipe?
Using only the freshest sax, bass, and drums, pressure cook for
four-and-a-half minutes, with no additives. The result? A steaming
hot platter of minimalist funk achieving maximum effect, and a
worldwide in-demander that anticipated today's jazz and funk scene
by a full 15 years. James Brown, eat your heart out.
So there you have it. A total of seven tunes; nothing but Grade-A,
one hundred percent, twenty-four carat club class killers, all
prime cuts and no fillers, tried, tested, and guaranteed to knock
your socks off. Whether you be a DJ, collector, or just plain
afficionado of the good groove, Deja Vu is as good as it gets.
-Steve
Kelly
London, 1992
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