Paul Jackson Trio: Groove Or Die

Rating: ★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Tony Match (d, perc)
Xantoné Blacq (kys, v, perc)
Paul Jackson (eb)

Label:

Whirlwind

Dec/Jan/2014/2015

Catalogue Number:

WR4656

RecordDate:

date not stated

Jackson is forever a hero, not least for his Headhunter years. Few bass men have dug that jazz funk groove so deep. This current trio gives space for Jackson's vocals and writing and there's no doubting the chops and commitment still at the Legend's disposal. Blacq and Match work tirelessly around and behind Jackson's ever-insistent runs and riffs, notably when the aptly titled ‘Groove’ takes off midway. That said, the vocals bear no relation to another Jackson, the much-missed Michael; we either have Jackson's husky tones, or Blacq's falsetto on the soul pop ‘Everything’. On the melancholy ballad ‘Pain’, the growled vocal is effective, but most listeners will want to move swiftly on to Jackson's bass skills, no better illustrated than on the irresistible rush of ‘Tiptoe Through The Ghetto’ or the deep pocket that is ‘Midnight Is A Lonely Heart’.

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