DRUM 'N' VOICE - ALL THAT GROOVE

Billy and friends are in Milano. They're game to jam with local legends like the Nicolosi Family who comprised the pop- R&B band Novecento back in the day. This is the result of those sessions.

1. "Africa's Sounds" (4:32) great opener of smooth jazz. Billy still has it! (9.3333/10)

2. "Shadow" (4:46) a cool jazzy pop/R&B song with great organ play from Pino Nicolosi and awesome bass and guitar from the other two Nicolosi brothers, Rossana and Lino, respectively. Sister Dora Nicolosi also makes an apearance as Gregg Brown's foil and backup singer. (8.875/10)

3. "Red Baron" (7:44) Troy Parrish speaking the lyrics over the funky music (of a Billy classic?) Never a huge fan of the original (off of Spectrum) but this one is groovin/dance-worthy. (13.5/15) 4. "Okky Dokky" (4:41) great melodic smooth jazz with a 90s Soul II Soul-like Acid Jazz feel. Excellent horn contributions, but such a great groove played by Billy, Rossana, and Marco Fadda. I love this tune! (9.375/10)

5. "Jah Spirit" (5:02) great Acid Jazz music with Gregg Brown's Rastafarian vocal, Lino Nicolosi's excellent rhythm and smooth lead jazz guitar work over Rossana and Billy's killer collaboration. Great double bass solo from Riccardo Fioravanti in the mid-section as well and trumpeter Fabrizio Bosso in the final third. (9.25/10)

6. "I Want You Back" (4:57) great cruisin groove established by Rossana, Pino and Billy while vocalist Rick Baily provides a satisfactory R&B vocal over the top. The Rick's multi-voiced b vox are fun. Rossana Nicolosi is the real deal! Brother Lino provides a fun blast-from the past Eddie Van Halen "Beat It" like guitar shredding in the final 90 seconds. (9.125/10) 7. "Sensations" (5:32) more cool grooving: sounding like a cross between Barry White's old LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA and some of the 90s' best Acid Jazz grooves (even Swing Out Sister). AWesome trumpet solo from either Amik Guerra or Fabrizio Bosso in the second half of the song. Great, hypnotic groove! (Rossana: you go girl!) (9.25/10)

8. "Leaving Now" (6:26) Smooth Jazz set up for Manhattan Transfer-like pop-jazz vocal from Gayle Moran-sound-alike Dora Nicolosi. Eddie Gomez' always welcome double bass sounds a bit weird. Great smooth jazz "lounge" piano from brother Pino Nicolosi. A tough, complicated vocal is performed admirable but not quite as perfectly as a Barbra Streisand or Celine Dionne (or even Corinne Drewery) would have done. (9/10)

9. "Hands Up!" (5:11) 1980s Smooth Jazz/Soul/R&B heaven! Love the strings arrangement and performance, Pino's organ and electric piano play, the Italian horn section, and, of course, Rossana's awesome bass! No more cowbell! (9.25/10)

10. "Now That You've Gone" (5:07) more stellar Smooth Jazz with nice group vocals and awesome jazz electric guitar over the amazing Pino, Rossana, Billy, Marco Fadda rhythm section. (9/10)

Total time 53:58

I can't think of a 21st Century Jazz-Rock Fusion album that feeds my 1970s-Motown-raised soul better than this one!

A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of Acid Jazz-tinged funky Smooth Jazz.

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