From the opening salacious, limbering, bars of Joe Lutcher’s spanking ‘Ojai’ you enter into the sweaty, devilish Jukebox Mambo spirit.
This raucous, and constantly carnal, compilation is the perfect soundtrack for illicit cellar bars, honky tonk joints and the sort of clubs you’re always warned not to enter! You know, the type of places where you can dance the coitus rituals of mambo till dawn and get your cocktail kicked over by the cornet player as he leaps up onto the bar with unreserved boundless energy and joy.
The listener then, is tempestuously invited to bare witness to the alluring mix of “dynamite R&B” and Afro-Cuban/Latin rhythms. A dynamic sensual sound prevalent during the 50s that brought Hispanic and Black cultures into contact with each other to form a most infectious, slinky, dance style of music.
Corralled and instigated by DJ Liam Large, this latest selection of rambunctious mambo follows on from the previous, and widely applauded, ‘Jukebox Jam’ compilation. More or less keeping to the same agenda, Large rescues another choice cannon of mystical, forgotten and rare-as-hens-teeth 45’s from the musical graveyard.
Those elected American R&B grooves playfully tease and soak up a myriad of influences from across the southern boarder. We got yelping travelogue boogaloo – Mabel Scot kisses goodbye to Mexico on ‘Fool Burro’ – ;Louisiana swamp forlorn – Percy Mayfield pines for his native land on – ;rip-roaring innuendo – Larry Dale is looking for a lover who, “like to jelly roll” on ‘Down To The Bottom’ – ;and pots’n’pans rattling percussive bossa nova – Cozy Cole let’s loose with an uninterrupted Latin frenzied drum solo on ‘Cozy N Bossa’.
Coquettish flirtations and provocative hip movements collide as artists such as Gloria Irving cuts-to-the-chase on her swinging, lumbering ‘I Need A Man’, whilst Fay Simmons’ leeringly and suggestively sings the high praises of her lover, ‘Big Joe Mambo’, over a primal conga beat – “He got what it takes to change a woman’s mind.” There’s a strong female presence, and a sexually confident one at that, which permeates throughout, despite the machismo climate of the era. These ladies know exactly what they need and where they’re “gonna git it!”
Yet again another quality compilation from the evangelical jazz and exotic rhythm activists at Jazzman Records, who’s weighty and scholastic releases schedule has constantly come up with the goods during the year.
Together with Liam Large, they’ve brewed-up an essential addition to any hip cats collection.
Released 12th November 2012
[Rating:4]
To usher in and celebrate this howling collection of mambo R&B, there will be a launch party on Saturday November 10th at the New Empowering Church, 1A Westgate Street, Hackney E8 3RL.
Doors open at 9pm with the entertainment provided by Natty Congeroo And His Flames Of Rhythm, Brass Volcanoes, Trio Farouche and Luna Rosa.
