Tough to Find. Get Ready to Be Transported to a Funkier Time
Bradley Evans | Denton, TX USA | 12/03/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"All right, the time was the mid-70s, and the world was cool. None of this war stuff, just some groovy tunes emanating from the '60s. Ramsey played off of them, and he knew who to hook up with at the time.
Who were these cool cats? How about Maurice and Verdine White of Earth, Wind, and Fire? How about Charles Stepney? How about Derf Reklaw Raheem, who plays flute on this CD (on "Aufu Oodu")? How about some slick production by Teo Macero and the hep cats at CBS Records before the House of Sony took it over? Some mighty groovy times. Stevie was still cuttin' records, and all was cool and funky.
Who didn't dig "Brazilica" at that time? You'll find some definite EW&F vocals ("Tang") on that tune - well constructed with a steady beat. It's a study in jazz orchestration with the strings employed. What a groovy bass line! Nice, with Ron Harris on bass!
The rest of the CD is lavishly produced. This was the last one made of that genre by Ramsey and Crew. After that, well, I guess it was the Reagan Years. (As one friend pointed out, "The day the music died.") Enough said on that.
This CD was only available as a Japanese import for the longest time - expensive, too. Cut back the crud of thirty years of time, and relive some magical moments with Ramsey and the hep cat crew of EW&F and friends.
Salongo, Ramsey!"
Vintage Ramsey
M. A. Hicks | Sagamore Hills, Ohio | 04/04/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought 'Salongo' back in '76 when I was only 15 yrs old. The music on this cd still permeates like sounds from the masters. Who can forget the vibrant tones of 'Brazilica', and the inspiring melodies of 'Nicole'. My favorite track on the cd is 'Seventh Fold', as Charles Stepney's influence is all over this track (Very Dynamic).
If this cd was a new release for 2009, I think it would transcend the world of jazz as it stands today. From the outrageous album cover, augmented with some of the best music compositions of times past Ramsey Lewis' 'Salongo' is one for the archives. A true gem. I had been waiting for this to be rereleased, and I snatched it up immediately, you should too."
Track Listings (7) - Disc #1