One of the true pioneers of soul, funk and rock, Sly Stone, turned 70 recently. Who knows where he is? Last year there was an article of him being homeless, and yet there are rumors of him touring around again. This album put together by keyboardist Jason Miles brings to refocus Stones popular 70s and 60s hits, but with the inevitable modernizing with synthesizers, turntables and the like. Vocalists ranging from Nona Hendryx, Falu and even Roberta Flack come together with original Family Stone drummer Greg Errico and a rotating team of drummers and guitarists and reed players. The takes of “Family Affair” are as well as the Indian-esque portrayal of “Thank You For…”while delivered with an intriguing dash of spice and flavor, at times lack the celebratory fervency that was part of the original band, and the backbeat party groove of the original band has been a bit mellowed here. You could argue that musically, it’s time to look a bit more forward, as that’s why Miles Davis originally latched on to this forward thinking band back when Nixon was president and thereby took his own band and changed his musical direction. This disc wouldn’t do that, but what it does instead is shine a different light onto the music that once had a riot going on. Maybe we don’t need more riots!
Zoho Records
www.zohomusic.com