HUBERT LAWS — Afro-Classic (review)

HUBERT LAWS — Afro-Classic album cover Album · 1970 · Third Stream Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
dreadpirateroberts
‘Afro-Classic’ is very much in line with the variety a pop record often demands. Laws, joined by familiar players (who he would either use again or appear as guest on albums of their own) works their talents seamlessly into the material. Taking pop, classical and film scores as starting points, the album shows enough fire and enough restraint to be quite a satisfying listen, especially in its unashamedly ‘pop’ moments.

With a cool or at times almost dark tone, ‘Afro-Classic’ is more folk-sounding at times, thanks in part to the range of percussive sounds and guitar, but the album is also capable of going fairly straight classical, even if the vibes make for a surprising texture in the Allegro. ‘Theme from Love Story’ is sweet and Taylor’s ‘Fire and Rain’ is given the Laws light-funk-jazz treatment, and serves as a knockout opener, featuring an kind of psychedelic solo from the fuzz-vibe and an almost aggressive Laws solo.

The second Bach piece is half-traditional, half blues and half jazz. (Yes, three halves. The jazz and blues can share with the classical aspects.) It ranges across gentle bass notes, washes of cymbal and the tinkling of electric keys behind the rich tone of the bassoon and the (Spanish) guitar and flute, to a more bluesy rhythm, and shows how well Sebesky and Laws can blend the two styles, not just across a whole album, but in a single piece.

The Mozart Flute Sonata is pleasant enough but perhaps a touch forgettable, but for me the strength of the album rests on its longer pieces anyway. Easily one of the better Laws albums, perhaps it’s not essential unless you’re a fan, but it’s still great. In fact, the casual listener might want to start here if ‘In the Beginning’ isn’t handy. Often a delicate record, ‘Afro-Classic’ is very rewarding if you’re willing to sit back and let him do his work, and it does hold its share of surprising moments too.

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!

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

New African Orleans African Fusion
ALUNE WADE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Alina Bzhezhinska & Tulshi : Whispers of Rain Jazz Related Improv/Composition
ALINA BZHEZHINSKA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Scheen Jazzorkester / Fredrik Ljungkvist : FRAMÅT! Avant-Garde Jazz
FREDRIK LJUNGKVIST
Buy this album from MMA partners
For Years Gone Hard Bop
STEVE KNIGHT
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

"March nr. 1" Maria Faust Sacrum Facere
MARIA FAUST
snobb· -50 second ago
Royalty For Real
SUSANNE ALT
js· 1 day ago
Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio Dream a Dream
SATOKO FUJII
js· 3 days ago
Nitty Gritty
RUSS SPIEGEL
js· 7 days 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