Jazz
Now reduced in size to a quintet (dropping the extra percussionist), Zawinul's Syndicate delivers its most overtly political album -- or shall we say, its most anti-political album with its forget-our-differences, one-world tone poems. If Lost Tribes sounds more like a Weather Report album than its Syndicate predecessors, it may be because the CD is loaded with Zawinul's uncanny impersonations of Wayne Shorter on his Pepe synthesizer. Yet the album also cuts down on the pop and straight jazz strains of yore as it explores the sounds and grooves of world music, and Zawinul also resumes using introductory sound collages that produce effects not unlike twisting a short-wave radio dial. The record begins powerfully with the circulating, tense "Patriots" -- depicting, oddly enough, the role of black soldiers in the Persian Gulf War -- and segues into the relaxed, swinging "South Africa," a celebratory sequel to "Black Water" with vocals by Perri. Bass player Gerald Veasley contributes a track called "San Sebastian" which comes very close to pure flamenco. This CD ranks above the other Syndicate Columbias because it is emotionally deeper; Zawinul allows himself to brood and ponder as well as party.
By Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide.
**
If you start off by listening to the title track you get the purest distillation of what Joe's all about on this (& most other Zawinul Syndicate) album/s. An African rhythmic beat interwoven with a simple melodic synthesiser groove plus Joe's vocoder voice - grooving & soothing all at once! The opener "Patriots" in itself is really only a "warm-up" segue into "South Africa" - part protest song but mainly in celebratory mode for the liberation of Nelson Mandela & the black Soth African nation. Victims of the Groove & Afternoon showcase Joe's more embellished synthesiser effects (but always with that great, cooking underlying groove & never "over the top"). Then take it down a notch with the gorgeous tone poem Night Clock & Rua Paula Freitas before heading into the flamenco-tinged "San Sebastien" & the gorgeous "In a while, in a while".
Never jarring, always inventive and highly recommended!
By David J. Ohanlon.
**
Joe Zawinul- Guitar, Percussion, Accordion, Keyboards, Saxophone, Vocals, Kalimba
Randy Bernsen- Guitar
Bobby Thomas, Jr.- Flute, Drums, Vocals, Didjeridu
Gerald Veasley- Bass, Vocals
Mike Baker- Drums, Vocals
Bill Summers- Percussion
Lebo M.- Vocals, Chant
Ambition Sandqnela- Chant
Abner Abbey Mariri- Chant
Carolyn Perry- Vocals
Darlene Perry- Vocals
Lori Perry- Vocals
Sharon Perry- Vocals
**
01. Patriots (4:52)
02. South Africa (6:41)
03. Lost Tribes (3:47)
04. Rua Paula Freitas (5:00)
05. Victims of the Groove (5:12)
06. Night Clock (6:00)
07. Afternoon (6:16)
08. San Sebastian (3:10)
09. In a While, in a While (5:25)
10. Changes (4:39)
**
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