Zawinul

Joe Zawinul

Zawinul

1971

Fusion

Two keyboardists -- Zawinul and the formidable Herbie Hancock -- form the underpinning of this stately, probing album, garnishing their work with the galactic sound effects of the Echoplex and ring modulator. Earl Turbinton provides the Wayne Shorter-like beams of light on the soprano sax, spelled by Wayne himself on "Double Image." The third founder of WR, Miroslav Vitous, checks in on bass, and hard-bopping trumpeter Woody Shaw proves to be perfectly adept at the jazz-rock game.

- Richard S. Ginell

Old School Next Friday

Various Artists

Old School Next Friday

March 14, 2000

Disco

It's the second soundtrack released around a sequel, but this collection of Old School hits based around Ice Cube's comedy Next Friday plays like the best retro releases from Low Rider or Thump Records. The Gap Band, Mtume, Whodini, and Hot Chocolate are all here with their definitive numbers, and then there's the brilliant addition of David Bowie's "Fame" which sounds extra funky in these surroundings.

- David Jeffries