DON BYRON — Nu Blaxploitation (review)

DON BYRON — Nu Blaxploitation album cover Album · 1998 · Eclectic Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
Rokukai
Nu Blaxploitation tries to do exactly what the title implies--update the blaxploitation style to fit the current jazz market. Byron mixes classic and nu r&b into his patented adventurous, avant framework.

I've tried really hard to get into this album, but it's just not my style. It's great how Byron quotes Mandrill and covers Mango Meat, Fencewalk, and Hagalo, but the avant aspect on many of the tunes are just a little far out for my taste. I suspect there's a large audience who really loves this well executed album, but it's difficult listening at times, Domino and Schizo seem to ramble endlessly and the puzzle pieces just don't fit.

The coup de grace for me is the cover of the Hendrix classic "If 6 was 9". Byron pulls out all the stops on this one, making one of the definitive recordings of the oft-covered song, and a great update for the new century.

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