MANDRILL,Mandrilland,'74 Afro jazz funk prog US 2LP

 RARE - SUPERB AFRO JAZZ FUNK PROG DOUBLE LP MANRILLAND from 1974 by MADRILL. POLYDOR PD2-9002
VINYL: VG++ to NM- ... VERY CLEAN, A FEW LIGHT HAIRLINES ONLY - AND EXCELLENT THICK PRESSING. PLAYS WELL.
SLEEVE: AROUND VG++ ... SOME SHELF/RINGWEAR ON FRONT. A LITTLE EDGE AND CORNER WEAR, BREAK IN THE BOTTOM OF BOTH THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS OF 4.5CM & 3CM RESPECTIVELY, SLIGHT BREAK TOP RIGHT CORNER, BUT THE COVER IS SUCH THICK CARDBOARD THEY HAVE LITTLE EFFECT.

Mandrill's fifth album, Mandrilland was sadly also the last album with a high "progressive" quotient. Though their sixth album, Solid was very good from start to finish, it did not feature any of the experimental or symphonic touches that are present on the double album Mandrilland. The most notable change from the first four albums is the departure of original fretburner Omar Mesa. His replacement, Doug Rodrigues is competent but just doesn't have the Santanaesque magic of Omar, and the album suffers as a result.

Side one opens with the single edit of the extended jam "Positive Thing" after which the listener is treated to the full version, which goes through many changes during the course of its 16+ minutes of Herbie Hancock, Chameleon style jazz/funk fusion.

Side two is the mellow side, opening quietly with a ballad. The second piece is a smooth Afro-Caribbean piece with African percussion and Jamaican patois vocals; a stoner piece to be sure. "Khidja" is another African informed piece including some typically fantastic flute playing and a very cool compositional twist. "House Of Wood" closes the side; a somber but powerful ballad that laments our parents mortality.

Side three opens with the upbeat African rhythms of "'Drill In The Bush" driven by the always tasty bass work of original bassist Mr. Fudgie Kaye. An apparent outtake from the "Positive Thing" jam, "El Funko" adds some scat style vocals over the serious funk groove before giving way to a fiery organ solo. Track three smacks of corporate commercialism with its simplistic 4/4 rhythm and sugary sweet vocal line. Closing out the side is "Folks On A Hill" that is sort of a bayou blues/rock piece with some intricate compositional punctuation, Mutron bass and great organ work.

Side four opens with the stunning instrumental symphonic rock piece "Mini Suite For Duke" which starts out like something from Il Balletto Di Bronzo and morphs into a Milt Jackson sounding movement, then a Headhunters movement before returning to the powerful symphonic theme. "Cal-ipso" is up next which as you might expect is a Calypso jam that, after a brief vocal passage flies into an avant sax solo followed by a call and answer alternating between Claude "Coffee" Cave's smokin' organ and Doug Rodrigues' Guitar. "After The Race" is the lone piece penned by the new Guitarist and it's a nicely written instrumental piece with a couple of nice twists featuring flute, organ, Mandrill's excellent horn section and the impeccable drums of Neftali Santiago.

An album of intricate pieces and tasty musicianship.

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