With Spread Love Like Wildfire, Down to the Bone gets back to the original musical vision its leader, Stuart Wade, had for the band. This 2005 release is much funkier and more energetic than Cellar Funk, the 2004 hit offered by the jazz/groove collective. The music -- jazz-funk fusion combined with modern retro/club/dance influences all grooved up -- is documented on 11 great tracks that feature the group's core members enhanced by a dynamic horn section, the jazz flute of Jeremy Steig, the organic soul sound of vocalist N'Dambi -- formerly of Erykah Badu's group -- as well as live drumming incorporated with the programmed grooves. "Memphis Groove" kick starts the set. It is a funky set that pays homage to Herbie Mann's jazz flute style on Memphis Two-Step and Memphis Underground. "Wildfire Woman" has that West Coast groovy funk and folk feel that came out of the '60s and '70s San Francisco scene. "London Life" reflects the cityscape of the English city and the band's creative base, while "Mystic Samba" has exotic Brazilian and samba flavors. Overall, this diverse recording with its funky beats and hot dance tunes should keep listeners entertained and definitely entice others to hit the dancefloor. ~ Paula Edelstein
Down to the Bone: Shilts (saxophone); Neil Angilley, Neil Cowley (keyboards); Julian Crampton, Richard Sadler (bass instrument); Tony Remy, Neal Wilkinson.
Personnel: Tony Remy (guitar, electric guitar); Ian Crabtree, Bruce Knapp (acoustic guitar); Jeremy Steig (flute); Paul "Shilts" Weimar, Richard Wargent (saxophone); Jon Scott (trumpet); Neil Cowley (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, claves, background vocals); Neil Angilley, Tim Best (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Neal Wilkinson (drums); Richard Sadler (percussion, programming, background vocals); Stuart Wade (programming, background vocals); David Tyler (programming).
Additional personnel: N'Dambi, Grace Ackroyd (vocals); Ian Crabtree, Bruce Knapp (guitar); Jon Scott (trumpet); Michael Kearsey (trombone); Tim Best (keyboards); Adam Riley (drums); David Tyler, Jeremy Steig, Richard Wargent.
JazzTimes (p.91) - "[T]he horn group continues to offer hard grooves."
Back on Track! DTTB has been one of my favorite groups! They lay down a groove and build on it like no other jazz funk artist around.
In general, I like their first album the best. It possesses the raw rythms that are the signature of this group -- very primal and engaging.
The second album is as good with more instruments added for interest. The third album peaks in the addition of instruments and friendly rythms for the masses. The fourth album has more of a New York urban flavor and disappointed me a little.
This fifth album reprises the excitement I felt from the earlier albums! As the previous reviewer pointed out, it has a bit of Latin flavor -- though I wouldn't categorize the group as Latin.
The are pure jazz/funk and they represent one of the most unique experiences in this category. I truely look this group! If you dig primal rythms, you simply have to give these albums a listen. Submitted by gregg_pennington (Overland Park, KS, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful.
Down to the Bone has a new fan Heard of this group but never purchased any of their music before. This first purchase was pretty good. Horn rythyms reminded me of old classic Chicago and I'm a big fan of funky horns. Album wasn't a "knock me down gotta go get all their CD's" type album but I think I'll be checking out more of this group again. Submitted by Devosefla (Orange Park, FL) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
DTTB Gets better and better Stuart Wade excels himself on this latin style sounding album, the best DTTB Album yet, if you haven't heard the past examples do right now, you wont be dis-appointed.
Keep up the good work.
PaulP. Submitted by palmer_paul (Birmingham, UK) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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