O'DONEL LEVY — Simba (review)

O'DONEL LEVY — Simba album cover Album · 1973 · Soul Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
4.5/5 ·
Rokukai
For many, "Simba" is their holy grail. A stout synthesis of jazz, funk, and soul, "Simba" has few peers from the '70's scene. The leadoff track is an absolute monster, an classic nonpareil that can be put first on any souljazz or jazzfunk compilation.

Arranged and supervised by Manny Albam, Levy's guitar shines through the beautiful strings and funky vamps and punchy horns. The title track and "Playhouse" are really the only up tempo songs on the album, the funk smokers. The others pieces are moody, sometimes introspective, always lovely. The song names are perfect for the setting--"Kilimanjaro Cookout" "Sierra Lonely" and "Nigerian Knights" are a few examples, and "Sad, Sad Simba" makes a nice counter to "Bad Bad Simba".

The top of the heap and Levy's finest 37 minutes.

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

LP on LP 06 : "Simple" / "Blaze On" 8/6/21 Jazz Related Rock
PHISH
Buy this album from MMA partners
LP On LP 05 : "Twist" / "Stash" 4/2/98 Jazz Related Rock
PHISH
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ballads Post Bop
NOAH PREMINGER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Heavy Drops Nu Jazz
ADAM BEN EZRA
Buy this album from MMA partners
Remembering Now RnB
VAN MORRISON
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Van Morrison - Down To Joy (Official Video)
VAN MORRISON
snobb· 9 hours ago
Free Palestine
DANIEL FERRUZ
js· 19 hours ago
Yasorey
LAWRENCE FIELDS
js· 19 hours ago
Dub Syndicate - Intercommunications (Official Audio)
DUB SYNDICATE
js· 1 day ago
Merkurie
JUNGLE PILOTS
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
Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed