Two-Headed Freap＜限定盤＞

ギタリスト,グラント・グリーンの1970年のアルバム『Alive!』に参加してブルーノート・レコードの耳目を集めたオルガン奏者のロニー・フォスターのブルーノート・デビュー盤となる1972年のジャズ・ファンクの名盤。

アル・グリーンやウィルソン・ピケットのファンキーなカアヴァーや、後にア・トライブ・コールド・クエストがヒップホップの名曲「Electric Relaxation」でサンプリングする「Mystic Brew」など魅力的なオリジナル曲を含む、活気あふれるセット!

【パーソネル】Ronnie Foster (organ)Gene Bertoncini (guitar) George Duvivier, Gordon Edwards (bass) Gene Bianco (harp) George Devens (vibraphone, percussion) Artur Jenkins (congas) Jimmy Johnson (drums)

Ronnie Foster's debut album, The Two Headed Freap is a set of contemporary funky soul jazz from the early '70s, which means it sounds closer to the soundtrack of a lost blaxploitation flick than Back at the Chicken Shack, Pt. 2. Foster certainly does display a debt to Jimmy Smith, but his playing is busier than Smith's and a bit wilder. Ironic, then, that his playing is in service to the groove and blends into the mix of wah-wah guitars, funk rhythms, electric bass, harps, and percolating percussion. Everything on The Two Headed Freap is about glitzy groove -- it sounds cinematic, colorful, and funky. It's true that there is little real improvisation here and the songs all have a similar groove, but it's worked well, and the music is ultimately appealing to fans of this genre. Jazz purists -- even soul jazz purists -- will likely find this music a little monotonous and commercial, but fans of early-'70s funk from Sly Stone to Herbie Hancock will find something of interest here. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine