ALPHONSE MOUZON — Funky Snakefoot (review)

ALPHONSE MOUZON — Funky Snakefoot album cover Album · 1974 · Funk Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
2/5 ·
Sean Trane
Second album from this excellent jazz & fusion drummer, but it’s not one I’d recommend if you’re in either (or both) styles; but you’d better expect more like a funky soul-jazz, one that flooded the airwaves of RnB radio. Although I’m not an expert in that afore-mentioned field, the guest list features only unknown (to moi, of course), except Randy Brecker (who wasn’t yet the widely-known persona he became), and maybe Mike Mandel or Ray Armando. To be honest, the artwork is a good indication of the music you can find on the record. Don’t be fooled by the Blue Note label belonging, though

Indeed, while the music is often fairly complex , if you’re a jazz of fusion fan, you won’t find much to clench your teeth into and might just as well use your forearm in frustrations. Most of the tracks are fairly mainstream sung funk-soul-jazz, none are terribly exciting either (well there are some ultra-technical killer funk here and there). Not surprisingly, the instrumental tracks are the most interesting, like the awesome title track or the excellent Coryell cover of ISM and often featuring Alphonse’s drumming pizzazz, and not just in the Where I’m Drumming From drum solo track. However, most of the rest of the album is simply gliding over my indifference shell, despite the odd humorous wink, like the Rosebud twangy/hick-country feel over a funk beat. I’ll give a half-mention to The Beggar or Yes I do. The material is half penned by the Mouzons, Langford and Highsmith filling the rest.

I won’t say much over Mouzon’s other releases that I will probably discover in the coming months, but I must say that this Blue Note label belonging is most misleading and you could be in for a major disappointment, even if the overall virtuosity on such an album is quite impressive. Just not my type of album, despite the instrumental brilliance.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Cecil Taylor Unit : Live At Fat Tuesdays, February 9, 1980 First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
CECIL TAYLOR
Buy this album from MMA partners
Solo Bern 1984 - First Visit Avant-Garde Jazz
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Bruno Parrinha & Johannes von Buttlar : Whispers and Reveries Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Nuno Torres & Johannes von Buttlar : Cosmic Collision Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ernesto Rodrigues, Carlos Bechegas, João Madeira & Monsieur Trinité : Free to Open Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ERNESTO RODRIGUES
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Songs My Mom Liked EPK - Anthony Branker
ANTHONY BRANKER
js· 22 hours ago
“INFLUENCES” by Jared Hall, trumpeter & composer
JARED HALL
js· 23 hours ago
Jean-Pierre (feat. Darryl Jones)
BILL EVANS (SAX)
snobb· 1 day ago
Magic Box
CHRISTOPHE MARGUET
snobb· 1 day ago
The Peacocks
ANTOINE DRYE
js· 1 day ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed