STEVE KUHN | ALDO ROMANO | STEVE SWALLOW — Childhood Is Forever (1971-1998) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

This date is a fine example of Steve Kuhn's concept of trio jazz. It was recorded in Paris, 1969. The programme is very well put together with exciting and varying interpretations of standards, with a cooking rendition of Steve Swallow's "Eiderdown" as a closing show-stopper. The trio is in exceptional good mood and delivers thoroughly inspired performances on every track. There is a latin tinge to most of the arrangements, but it is only truly explicit in the bossa/latin tunes. It keeps the vibe fresh and bouncy. The album also has a few excentric excurions into free/avantgarde but they act more as beacons of distant shores than points of focus – a sort of spice. Steve Swallow's bass work is nothing short of stellar through the whole album. As is drummer Aldo Romano's. This is arguably one of the better incarnations of the Steve Kuhn Trio and worthy of wider discovery.
It is a pity, though, that both the recording, the vinyl pressings and cd reissue are marred with serious sound quality issues. But, on the other hand, it sort of increases the feeling of having found a hidden, unpoilshed gem - which this album truly is. Tobias Berving
Tracklist :
1    The Night Has A Thousand Eyes 6:01
Written-By – J. Brainin
2    Spring Can Really Hang You The Most 6:48
Written-By – Wolf
3    Baubles, Bangles And Beads 5:03
Written-By – Forest, Wright
4    The Meaning Of The Blues 3:41
Written-By – B. Troup
5    All That's Left 5:48
Written-By – A.C. Jobim
6    I Waited For You 5:07
Written-By – W. Fuller
7    Eiderdown 4:25
Written-By – S. Swallow
Credits :
Bass – Steve Swallow
Drums – Aldo Romano
Piano – Steve Kuhn

ARCHIE SHEPP - Yasmina, A Black Woman (1969-1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

There is some intriguing music on this 1969 recording. Tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp met up with members of the Chicago avant-garde school for the first time, including Art Ensemble of Chicago members Lester Bowie, Roscoe Mitchell and Malachi Favors, on the lengthy "Yasmina," a track that also includes drummers Philly Joe Jones, Art Taylor, and Sunny Murray. On "Sonny's Back," there is an unlikely tenor tradeoff between Shepp and Hank Mobley, while "Body and Soul" gives Shepp a showcase opportunity. Although this set is not essential, it is unique enough to be recommended to avant-garde collectors. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Yasmina 20:08
Alto Saxophone – Arthur Jones
Bass – Earl Freeman
Bass Saxophone – Roscoe Mitchell
Composed By – Archie Shepp
Drums – Sunny Murray
Percussion [Rhythm Logs] – Art Taylor
Trumpet – Lester Bowie
Xylophone [Balafon] – Laurence Devereaux
2    Sonny's Back 14:03
Composed By – Grachan Moncur III
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
3    Body And Soul 6:22
Composed By – Heyman, Green, Sour
Credits
Bass – Malachi Favors
Drums – Philly Joe Jones
Piano – Dave Burrell
Tenor Saxophone, Voice, Arranged By – Archie Shepp

FUNKADELIC – The Electric Spanking of War Babies (1981-2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

With George Clinton, a humorous phrase could be nothing more than playful tomfoolery, or it could be a double entendre with a deep political meaning. The phrase "electric spanking of war babies" falls into the latter category -- it referred to what the funk innovator saw as the U.S. government using the media to promote imperialistic wars. To Clinton, the American media functioned as a propaganda machine during wartime. But whether or not one cares to examine its hidden political messages, Electric Spanking is an above-average party album. Spanking falls short of the excellence of One Nation Under a Groove and Uncle Jam Wants You and didn't boast a major hit single, but amusing funk smokers like "Electro-Cuties" and "Funk Gets Stronger" aren't anything to sneeze at, nor is the reggae-influenced "Shockwaves." Spanking turned out to be the last album Clinton would produce under the name Funkadelic -- when he hit the charts again in 1983, Mr. P-Funk was billing himself as a "solo artist."  Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1 Electric Spanking Of War Babies 8:39
2 Electro-Cuties 6:12
3 Funk Gets Stronger (Part 1) 6:40
4 Brettino's Bounce 3:40
5 Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter Longer Version) / She Loves You 4:42
6 Shockwaves 5:08
7 Oh, I 4:53
8 Icka Prick 4:09