The earthy, brassy sound of the Souljazz Orchestra takes on a slightly different guise on ‘Under Burning Skies’, with the addition of synthesizers and drum machines from the 1980s. The slight update works well, as ‘Dog eat dog’ eases us into the album, but the reassuring rasp of the sax is welcome on ‘Lufunki’, which has considerable swing. ‘Yeelyel’ has an irresistible, hip swinging rhythm, ‘Holla Holla’ is packed with good vibes, while the breezy ‘Sorrow Fly Away’ really does do that. Brassy funk with strong Afro flavours and a bit of electronics in the background production. What’s not to like?
Ben Hogwood
4 out of 5
SOULJAZZ ORCHESTRA – UNDER BURNING SKIES – STRUT
