The new album by the Steve Reid Ensemble, Daxaar, has just been released on Domino Recordings and it is simply a must have. Recorded in 3 days at Studio Dogo, Dakar, Senegal, West Africa in Jan this year it has groove and loose pushes and nudges that are exhilirating and joyous. Accompanied by Kieran Hebden (electronics), Khadim Badji (percussion), Dembel Diop (bass), Isa Kouyate (korah and vocal), Roger Ongolo (trumpet), Jimi Mbaye (guitar) and Boris Netsvetaev (keyboard), Reid and crew make merry, locking into shuffles and loping grooves that set all the natural and good vibe chemicals flowing. The whole thing jels beautifully. Afro funk and free jazz with Hebden`s electronica slewing the perspective with fresh and crisp sounds. The laptop is never domineering, the groove stays firmly with Reid`s percussion, and spreads far and wide with the other musicians playing their heart and soul out. The album pulses with esoteric resonance and cooks with geniune warmth.
Steve Reid had popped his recording cherry by drumming on `Dancing In The Street` by Martha and The Vandellas in 1964, at the age of 19. The drum sticks have stayed in his hands ever since, picking up the rhythm for such icons as Miles Davis, Sun Ra, James Brown, Ornette Coleman and Fela Kuti.
Steve Reid has been full on busy again this year, travelling around the globe from his home town of Lausanne in Switzerland to play gigs in support of his work with Kieran Hebden. They released their third album, Tongues earlier this year. Whilst listening to a tracks from Tongues with Gilles Peterson, Reid called the collaboration a "tribute to things of the past and things of the future". He is the first jazz musician to be signed to ultra hip indie label Domino. Reid has indeed met huge stars Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys, who he says "made it possible for us to operate on Domino". A wise head on that mans shoulders. Given his wealth of experience as a working musician, he was asked how he felt about a recent tour schedule that included 7 gigs in a row...................."its not work, its a love venture", was Reid`s answer. "We have a tour bus now, so we go out in style...........with our own driver/soundman and merch seller ". Anyway for the record the most shows he has done is 31 in 30 days out in Sweden......give that a try all you pampered multi-million selling musicians ........Reid has made many obscure records out in Sweden, where he has been working on and off for the past 30 years. He has recently tracked down nearly all the massive number of albums he has played on, having to buy some to complete his collection.
Showing no signs of slowing up, Steve Reid is a consumate artistic genius, who is planning more and more gigs as well as recording in NYC next year with some very special guests including his one time band member saxophonist Arthur Blake and, wait for it.......... Robbie Coltrane.
Daxaar is out now on the Domino Recording Company. Steve`s website has more information, as does the Domino and Steve Reid & Kieran Hebden site.
Praise the Reid indeed and long may he groove...................thanks to Paul @ Domino and Gilles Peterson.
Read an interview with Kieran Hebden on hesterglock and a review of Tongues here.
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