SOUL PIECE proves that this band isn’t just capable of digging into different grooves; they excel at it!
April Records
Rolf Thofte – Trumpet; Andreas Toftemark – Saxophone; Mads Nørgaard – Guitar; Simon Eskildsen – Keyboards; Anton Langbæk – Bass; David Basiakov – Drums, Percussion
I thoroughly enjoyed MOKO JUMBIE, A Plane To Catch’s debut last year, but their follow-up SOUL PIECE, takes it up a notch. The personnel is the same, there are no surprise guests, and the playing is as tight as ever. But this time around, it feels like they’re taking more chances.
MOKO JUMBIE tapped into the rhythms and traditions of West Africa, blending them with American R&B, while SOUL PIECE shifts gears, diving into the deep grooves of ’60s soul and funk. But don’t mistake this for a cover band. Every band member brought original compositions to the table, giving the album a fresh, creative edge. Simon Eskildsen lays down plenty of organ, with some tasty Fender Rhodes sprinkled in, while Mads Nørgaard’s guitar work flirts with psychedelia, adding an extra layer of cool. It’s a vibrant, modern take that really works.
These guys call themselves the ‘young lions ’of the Danish jazz scene, and they’re fully immersed in Denmark’s thriving music world. Nørregaard, Langebæk, and Besiakov play with the Afrobeat-inspired Black Money Orchestra and Bæst. Eskildsen, after leading his own piano trio and playing in the Karmen Röivassepp Quartet, now performs with the Addis Ababa Band. Thofte and Toftemark each lead their own mostly jazz projects.
Recorded live over two days at the Royal Danish Academy of Music, the album’s raw warm production pulls you in with the energy and intimacy of a live show, making you feel like you’re right there on the dance floor.
I thought “Bamako Convention Center” was an odd choice for the title of a soul/funk tune, since the Bamako Convention was about banning hazardous waste in Africa. Maybe it’s a nod to the African roots from their first album. Eskildsen’s organ nails that sweet spot, blending Booker T. vibes with a hint of Procol Harum’s “Whiter Shade of Pale.” Thofte’s trumpet and Toftemark’s sax hit with the impact of a full horn section. Nørgaard’s guitar is sharp and syncopated, driving the funk vibe, but then he’ll take off with these psychedelic lines that twist and expand like they’re floating through space. Langbæk’s bass is deep and punchy, with an oh-so-tight groove.
‘Mr. Well Dressed ’captures a laid-back, stroll-down-the-street vibe. The organ and guitar add rich highlights to the terrific unison playing. Thofte dazzles with am expressive jazzy trumpet solo, while Toftemark shows off some impressive melodic invention in real time on saxophone. This track is one of the jazzier, and it’s buoyed by a solid, thick-bottom bass line.
The title track, ‘Soul Piece’, settles into a catchy, hummable groove with a chunky bass line. Thofte delivers beautiful trumpet lines throughout, while the organ lovingly fills the background. David Basiakov’s drumming keeps the pocket deep, providing a solid, relentless rhythm that gives the band plenty of room to shine.
SOUL PIECE proves that this band isn’t just capable of digging into different grooves; they excel at it!
