Even when he was actively one of the legends of rock drumming, Ginger Baker always gave homage to his jazz influence, stating that guys like Art Blakey made him the drummer (if not the addict) that he was. His work with Cream and Blind Faith with Eric Clapton is the stuff of legend, and his signature high hat and rumbling tom toms is prevalent there as it is here, with a true jazz release with Pee Wee Ellis/ts, Alee Dankworth/b and Abass Dodoo/perc. Except for the Afro-popish title track with Rudzai and Lisa Baker on vocals, you get some loose and some times languid blues grooves as on “Ginger Spice” and “Cyril Davis” both which feel like Variations of a Toad Theme. Ellis’ tenor is thick and sandy, working wonders on”Twelve and More Blues” and Dankworth’s bass lass down some nice sounds on Wayne Shorter’s “Footprints” and the reggae-hinting “Ain Temouchant.” Old rockers will find a friend here.
Motema Music