Search - Paul Jackson :: Black Octopus

Thinking mans funk!

dubka | Cumbria, UK | 12/27/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having been unable to afford this album in its original, rare, japanese, vinyl format for a painful number of years, stumbling upon this reissue seemed like a dream come true. What can I say about Paul Jackson? This man is an incredible musician and composer (he co-wrote such classics as "Chameleon" and "Hang-up your hang-ups" along side Herbie Hancock). He is one of the few bass players who is capable of evoking an immediate emotional response from the listener. In other words, when Paul gets down, you sit up and listen! When first listening through "Black Octopus" Paul suddenly becomes much more than "Herbies bass player" and I believe this collection of songs helps to illuminate the many sides of this great musician which I was previously unaware of. "Many Directions" sees Paul reciting jazz poetry and playing upright bass (pretty avante garde for Paul), then in direct contrast the down right funk of "Eight ways of Love". This shows Paul throwing some Stevie Wonder-esque vocal acrobatics around and leaving the synth bass to Herbie Hancock. Not exactly what one would expect at this point but great fun all the same! I think "Funk times three" is what I expected the whole album to be like i.e. this track is most like the Headhunters. I've never been so pleased to be wrong! Next up is another unexpected delight, "Burning in the heat" a beautiful funk/disco ballad. Completing the album is the cool and surprisingly unfamiliar "Tiptoe thru the ghetto", I find it difficult to understand why we are all unaware of this and a couple of Pauls other songs which cry out "classic funk track". Anyway, better late than never. I should point out the other reasons why this album is great besides Pauls playing and writing. Namely, Herbie Hancock, Bennie Maupin, Alphonse Mouzon, Webster Lewis and Ray Obiedo. These guys are some of the greatest jazz/funk musicians ever. Need I say more? Funk hungry, young musicians such as myself will love this album, as will anyone who likes their funk laid down by the best in the business. This is real thinking mans funk. But don't take my word for it. In the words of Alphonse Mouzon, "hell, all the takes are funky!"."