Smoke Signals by Kerbside Collection

Raw jazzfunk and gritty rare grooves ensemble from down under - Kerbside Collection - return with their third record Smoke Signals! Continuing in a down home, instrumental approach, but this time combining updated elements and flavours into their spectrum of warm, analogue, dusty grooves; from more frequent fender-rhodes electric jazz elements, to New Orleans sprinklings alongside their 60’s inspired West Coast style. Smoke Signals continues the wilder tones, textures and ‘library’ sounds of extra instrumentation where previous ‘Trash or Treasure’ left off, whilst introducing hints of fusion and cinematic analogue electric colours into the mix - bringing things into slightly early 70s territory.

Opening with the lush, chilled, palate of Waiting Game, reminiscent of some classic Air ‘Moon Safari’ grooves, before the album properly begins with a fresh rendition of the rhodes heavy Cedar Walton 70’s jazz funk classic ‘Jacob’s Ladder’. Then straight into the street-styled jazz-bongo -breaks and funky-flute of ‘Traffic’, a skankin’ New Orleans reggae homage to one of its finest Creole dishes, featuring funky hammond organ curtosy of guest Jake Mason (Cookin’ on 3 Burners/Jake Mason Trio) and tasty piano work from multi instrumentalist Andrew Fincher who handles both guitar and keys throughout the whole record.

The middle of the record comes with a steaming afro deep-funk workout, and a low slung N’awlins styled blues ‘n’ soul groover, both featuring the fruity, low-end brass action of Papa Joe on baritone sax, before taking a gentle, restful breather with the delightful, soulful, rhodes ballad ‘Little Mountain’; and a beatnik ‘waltz-jazz-wig-out’ attributed to their label’s A&R Mr Mellow (reminiscent of some humerous 90s UK acid jazz ala Corduroy and James Taylor Quartet) featuring some beautiful jazzy flugelhorn, and acoustic double bass.

The album wraps up proper with another version - a grittier reinterpretation and arrangement of a Bob James 80s jazzfunk classic ‘Westchester Lady’ complete with funky flute and soaring guitar solo, before closing with the explosive rock-funk workout and title track ‘Smoke Signals’ (another car reference)........ rounding out a record with a full spectrum of handmade raw jazzfunk, soul, funky reggae, library and gritty rare grooves....enjoy!

credits:
- Guitars/hammond organ/fender rhodes/piano/clavinet/juno-106/various other synthesizers/vibraphone ::: Andrew ‘manny’ Fincher
- Fender bass/double bass ::: Lachlan ‘swampdog’ Symons
- Drums/tambourine/congas/percussion/synths ::: Jason ‘paprika’ Bell
- Baritone sax/tenor sax/flute ::: Joseph ‘papa Joe’ Roberts

*trumpet on ‘Traffic’, ‘Afro Struttin’, ‘NOLA’ & Flugelhorn on ‘Yellow Fellow’ : Darren Skaar
*funky organ on ‘Cajun Jollof’ : Jake Mason

Recorded & engineered by Marly Lüske @Alchemix Studios
/Brisbane/Australia 24th-27th June 2017.
Assisted by Jake Mason & Joseph Norday.
Piano on Cajun Jollof tracked by Cam Bower.
Mixed by Marly Lüske & Jason Bell @ Alchemix.
Mastered by Gavin Weiss.

Artwork: Rafael Uzai
www.rafaeluzai.com.

℗ Mr Mellow's Publishing

all instrumental gritty jazz funk & dusty rare groove ensemble taking inspiration from 60s & early 70's West Coast sounds. ‘old school drums, fender or upright bass, alongside funky hammond organ & rhodes, & some sweet George Benson-ish jazz guitar licks on top.

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