Customer Rating:      Summary: So damn funky Comment: This is definitely one of my favorite albums. I'm not going to write a long in-depth analysis, I will only say that as a musician this is one of the albums I look too for inspiration simply in finding that groove I want for writing and performing. If you're looking for something you can just enjoy the hell out of with no pretensions, look no further.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Great but... Comment: I love the music here but my one criticism is the amount of 'crowd participation' etc really gets in the way. Maceo eggs the crowd on to a large degree, which is a hallmark of his style but it's not really appropriate for an entire album. But once he shuts up and starts to play...look out it's mighty funky.
Customer Rating:      Summary: Where is the bass Maceo? Comment: After reading the many 'rave' reviews about this album (and having the odd album of Maceo's already) I promptly followed suit and ordered my own. I must say that after listening to it I was fairly unimpressed.
Yes there is definitely some great funk on here and virtuoso playing. But, and here's a few butts for ya!
1) Where is the bass??? - I have a high end audio system and I would have to say that this is about the most anemic disc I have ever heard! The one very thing that funk needs is a solid backbeat and bottom end and this disc just doesn't have any. With any luck you can crank on the bass control on your system but why do we have to do this? The recording/mastering engineers should have known better.
2) Candy Dulfer - might be pretty but she doesn't add anything funky to this disc. Reminiscent of Kenny G and would have been better off this album.
3) Maceo's singing (assuming its him) - better spent wrapping his lips around a reed. Sweet Georgia is a tired old tune, not much for funk either and basically is a big lead sinker.
4) 'So Good' sped up wasn't very inspiring either and the original James Brown version (which he obviously would have played on also) just wipes it by comparison. Nothing inspiring with this selection.
I could go on, but these were the main beefs...
I'm sure the guy is great live, but this record, judged on its merits (rather than some memory of a concert of years ago that others seem to be recalling) is only average.
Cheers, Kendrick
Customer Rating:      Summary: Ooooh, what's that you're doin'? Sure looks good to me! Comment: This is the best live performance ever recorded, EVER. I'd give my right leg to have been there.
Any drummers here? There's enough tight licks to send you to the woodshed to practice for a decade. Almost every backbeat sends chills down my spine.
This album is truly a testament to instrumental musicians. Everybody plays their part, nobody steps on anyone else, each musician inspires the others to play their best, and the result is a sublime collective whole. Machines will never groove as hard humans, and this album is proof.
I'm on my third copy in over a decade, the CDs just can't seem to hold up to the amount of times I play them.
Customer Rating:      Summary: If for nothing else, to rock your party Comment: This album is great and in heavy rotation from my collection. The version of "Shake Everything You Got" will bring any room full of loungers and chatters to their feet and really get the party rolling.
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