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.
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