Simon Oslender: All That Matters

Rating: ★★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Steve Gadd
Nils Landgren (tb)
Simon Oslender (org, ky, syn, perc)
Bruno Muller (g)
Will Lee (b)
Jakob Manz (as)

Label:

Leopard

February/2025

Media Format:

CD, LP, DL

Catalogue Number:

CD/LP31453

RecordDate:

Rec. date not stated

The iconic Lee and Gadd in gun for hire mode helping out Oslender and pals on an album of proficient but somewhat sanitised funk and R&B grooves. With those top studio skills to hand, we and Oslender are indeed ‘In Safe Hands’ as the opening funker is monickered. Manz donates sprightly alto, but the unassertive break down points up this is not the JBs.

But then that’s unfair: Oslender is obviously having a riot in this company and not for the first time either, Lee having previously purred away behind his keys.

We could have done with more of Manz and definitely more of Landgren, who barely gives the recording a passing wave. But I guess it’s Gadd and Lee we’re here for: ‘On a Roll’ has something of Zawinul in its soul-blues vibe and is replete with a typically easeful Gadd break. ‘Say it Again’ brings back Muller’s welcome colours, but quite where the rockish ‘Donkey’ was going with a sheepish Lee trying to be Lemmy is a mystery. Everyone’s comfier on the chirpy ‘Cruisin’’, with Lee tossing off a fine, hood down, hair in the breeze break.

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