Mark Rapp leads a nice and down home band with Joe Kaplowitz/B3, Ahmad Mansour/g, Klemens Marktl/dr and Don Braden/ts-fl on this trigue of sorts to the soul jazz of the 60s. The material leans heavy on the Lou Donaldson songbook, with Rapp’s use of his trumpet/flugelhorn/cornet and Didgeridoo being a wise way to avoid comparisons with the famed alto saxist. The mood is funky and smoky, with classics like “Alligator Boogaloo” and “Spaceman Twist” exuding grit and spit. Quincy Jones’ “Sanford and Son” theme gets a nice workout as well, making this a party animal’s delight. Braden’s tenor hits all the right nerves, and when teamed with the B3, it’s a match made in boogaloo heaven.
Dinemec Records
www.markrapp.com