Search - Various Artists :: Blue Breakbeats 4

Perfect compilation!

Charles R Gigante | 04/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Truly, one of the best things Blue Note has done in years has been the "blue" series of compilations released with all different moods and themes. Whether its "Blue Bacharach" "Afro Blue" or in this case "Blue Breakbeats", this series has made for some of the best listening around in jazz. Blue Breakbeats vol 4 is my favorite of them all. I can't find one low point on the disc. The whole record flows imaginatively from song to song, building in energy and creativity, finally ending on a song ("this is soul") summing up not just the disc, but the whole series as well. I definitely have to say that the standout tracks are "Woman of the Ghetto" by Marlena Shaw, whose lyrics are so profound and are delivered with infinite emotion; "Bring Down The Birds" is a track by Herbie Hancock that funks like no other. (Did you really think Deee-Lite could come up with that bassline?) My favorite track is one that brings back a lot of memories...Three is the Magic Number. It grooves, is forever inspiring, and has found its rightful place in postmodern's history, being sampled on one of the timeless hip-hop masterpieces of the late 80's/early 90's : De La Soul's "3 feet High and Rising". Overall, this collection is as funky as they get, and we should all bow our heads and pay homage to the funk gods, for it is they who give our life a little groove."