A fresh and funky debut that is essential to your music coll
J. Smith | Virginia | 04/21/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Down to the Bone first brought some much-needed funky grooves from England over to the United States in the late `90s, and contemporary jazz was better because of it. The group's subsequent albums have varied in their overall quality, with some being nearly equally outstanding and some being a little more forgettable, but their debut album From Manhattan to Staten was an instant classic. There really isn't a bad track on this album - 10 funky tracks bring the urban flavor in a way that no group other than Four80East has come close to matching. Highlights include: every track on the album! It's that good. But if I had to choose my favorites, they'd be:
Brooklyn Heights - great bassline and bright piano melody.
Touch of Voodoo - the acoustic bass sets this song apart.
17 Mile Drive - perfect for a late-night cruise, but if you drive 17 miles during the course of this 7 minute, 14 second track, then it's a pretty safe bet that you'll lose your driver's license!
Carlito's Way - a great track that was one of the first singles to radio off this album. There's a longer version out there (not sure why it wasn't included on this album), but the shorter version included on this album makes the most of its 3 minutes and 27 seconds. If you're looking for an introduction to the Down to the Bone flavor, start with this short and accessible track.
3 Days in Manhattan - the baritone sax-led melody on this track is fantastic, resolutely unique, and indicative of the funky risk-taking that the group took with their debut album. Quick, name ANY song you've ever heard with a bari-sax melody. See what I mean about it being unique?
If you have any interest in Down to the Bone (which is pretty much a given, since you're already reading this review), start with this album. I recommend this album as ESSENTIAL to any serious music collector's collection.
This Review Copyright 2010 by J. Smith."