Brief Reviews: P-R

Paris Combo: Live

Ark 21

It's Paris Combo, and they're live somewhere. Enjoyable stuff, a little looser and less glossy than their studio outings, and with a bit more of an emphasis on their instrumental side. They stretch out a bit, but retain their hot jazz feel. Wonderfully played and sung, lightly idiosyncratric without being way out there.

Paul Horn: Brazilian Images

Paul Horn: Africa

Paul Horn: Inside the Taj Mahal 1 & 2

Transparent Music

Seminal stuff of is kind, and there's no doubting that Horn can play magnificently, although the music often crosses the line into New Age (although it had no name back then). Atmospheric, hauting...the words could almost have been made for Horn's music. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing...

Peter Tosh: Talking Revolution

Pressure Sounds

The electric disc, from the One Love Peace concert in 1978, is a straight rehash of the 2000 JAD release. But the second disc, just Tosh and guitar is interesting, quite dark. He's not Marley, but his presentation of some material is disturbing and mesmeric.

Pharaoh's Daughter: Out of the Reeds

Knitting Factory

Meditative, spiritual Jewish music from this NYC ensemble, some of which catches fire, and some of which never transcends the noodling stage. A mix of traditional and original sounds, and where the experiments work, they're exciting. Leader Basya Schechter is a major talent, but it seems she needs editing and direction at times.

Porter Hall, TN: Welcome to Porter Hall, TN

Slewfoot

A dynamic duo (with backing) who evoke some of the classic male-female singing partnerships. Molly Conley is a sultry singer, and great writer, while Gary Roadarmel is an excellent vocalist, and getting there with his compositions. I guess they do still make them like this...

Quetzal: Sing the Real

Vanguard

Latin-inflected, with touches of bolero and tango to inform the acoustic pop. But it's hard to find a soul to it, and the band doesn't seem to know eaxctly who they want to be. Unfortunately the songs aren't especially memorable, either, so while you can't really fault it, it's simply nothing very special.

Quetzal: Worksongs

Vanguard

More pop-rock with Mexican folk inflections than anything else. A few tracks are good, the rest nondescript - and when the singer starts straining, it can be quite unpleasant.

R.L. Burnside: Mississippi Hill Country Blues

Fat Possum

This reissue of a 1984 album, long before the Burnside hit a bigger audience, showed there was blues life in the Mississippi hils, not just the Delta, and that it was very active. In some ways more satisfying than his later material (especially the record he made with the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) this is the sound of a man making the music of his heart, an important historical and social document.

Rachid Taha: Live

Mondo Melodia

A surprisingly weak live disc from an incendiary artist. Actually, this would be a great record, except for the lead guitarist, who insists on inserting metal cliches in every possible spot, ruining the mood and flow of the music. If that's not a criminal offence, it ought to be.

Ravi Shankar: Bridges - The Best of Ravi Shankar

BMG

Not quite what it says - it's the best of the Private Music years, which produced three albums. However, working on the theory that there's no bad Shankar, it's fab, and some of his most adventurous, live in Russia (with Russian players), a collaboration with Philip Glass edging into new music, and working with former pupil George Harrison. Not Indian classical, but still damn good.

Robert Belfour: Pushin' My Luck

Fat Possum

Good set from the Mississippi blueman, one of those helping prove that the Delta and the hill country remain vital. He plays acoustic, but the album is still electrifying. The tradition remains very strong in him, but never stultifying - Belfour is part of the continuum, while keeping his own voice.

Rosario: Muchas Flores

BMG Latin

Mostly Latin pop, but still in touch with her roots - just not quite enough. The tracks with heavy flamenco influence are by far the most appealing things on here. The woman needs a new producer, it seems.

Brief Reviews: P-R

Paris Combo: Live

Paul Horn: Brazilian Images

Paul Horn: Africa

Paul Horn: Inside the Taj Mahal 1 & 2

Peter Tosh: Talking Revolution

Pharaoh's Daughter: Out of the Reeds

Porter Hall, TN: Welcome to Porter Hall, TN

Quetzal: Sing the Real

Quetzal: Worksongs

R.L. Burnside: Mississippi Hill Country Blues

Rachid Taha: Live

Ravi Shankar: Bridges - The Best of Ravi Shankar

Robert Belfour: Pushin' My Luck

Rosario: Muchas Flores

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