If you have been a fan of British jazz-funk and soul music for more than twenty years, youll know Shakatak. And if you know Shakatak, youll know George Anderson – hes been holding down the low end since the early 80s. His touring schedule, both with Shak and with his own band is very hectic – you only need to look at his Facebook page to see that. Lets talk about what came out of the sessions for his latest solo CD... Now, Im a card-carrying funkateer and Im immediately hooked on ‘G-Funk. Ah, so you know where hes going with this. A heavy groove, layers of vocals, some sweet horns and a great hook. All thats missing is Bootsy saying yeayah! If you want to know how loud your stereo will go, why not find out with this? I love this shout out to the halcyon days of funk, but make no mistake, this record is bang on trend. The addictive dancer ‘Miracle is as good a soul record as youll dance to this year. Theres a compulsive groove too on the soulful ‘Dont Waste my Time. If you play this in the car, heads will be nodding... If you want something thats the essence of feelgood, ‘Joys of Life should be the next on your list. Theres a lovely upfront bass sound on this track that drives it really nicely. ‘All or Nothing has so much ‘air in that rhythm – its swingbeat. I lived in London for most of the 80s – and Im right back there. At the start, I was talking jazz-funk and soul. The jazz-funkers will lap up ‘Miller Time. Now, you work out who this is a tribute to when you hear it, and while youre working it out, try to remember where you heard that cheeky horn riff before (Ive figured it out, but Im saying nothing...). This shifts moods really nicely and I smile every time I hear it – its about the bass yall! Its clear to me from hearing Georges live CD that he knows the meaning of ‘crowd-pleaser. So, imagine yourself down near the stage on a hot night, just about anywhere, going wild to ‘Festival de la Vida. Now Im not going to say ‘shades of George Duke. Yes I am!! Good Lord, that piano solo will get you. It will get you! George, Im coming out to see you – just promise youll play this! The funks here, the jazzers will hear things theyll love and soul music is alive and well. ‘Beautiful not only has a lovely vocal, its written in waltz time and has very sexy fretless bass and sax solos. Give ‘Promised Land a couple of plays and you wont be able to get it out of your head. Im a soul fan and I love live music so the closer, a live version of EWFs transcendental ‘Cant Hide Love is literally making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I want to find a clever way to sum this record up. OK, Ill give it my best shot. It feels like George has thought about everything he has enjoyed listening to and playing for the last 40 years, worked out where that overlaps with his fans tastes and then just written, played and produced his heart out. Whos this album for? This is the easy bit – its for YOU.
