The Apostles

Michael F. Grafe (mgrafe@int1.mhrcc.org)
Mon, 14 Oct 1996 12:08:08 -0500


bil and all,
I've been trying to get this post out for days, now Sunday morning,
family's at church, but I've got a direct line to "The Apostles"
(Hollywood/AJ 68039-2)

Two fellows produced and mixed, and play together on most songs: John
Willmott (touring w/JTQ, also noticed a post by Teresa Willmott in the "Why
do we love music?" thread, any relation?) - sax and flute, and John Dutton
- keyboards / James Taylor plays Hammond on four cuts* / David Taylor on
guitar on the same four, with sundry rythmn and horn players.

tracks
-come together - featuring rap by The Prodigal Son
yea yea yea oo-oo oo-oo oooooo female refrain, straightforward rap tune
with a nod to old Sly Stone era stuff, poppy bass and fast strummin funky
guitar. pretty flute weaves in and out.
-super strut* - warm sun, cool breeze music, vibes, flute predominate over
an airy organ swirling between channels and a hi-hat/snare. fetching.
-cosmic cycles - my favorite cut, hesitating beat, steady bass line,
ambient fills and grand piano tinkling backs a call and response between a
sweet sax and flute, then each instrument takes the foreground with some
inspired stuff.
-inc. spot* - wah-wah guitar, Hammond rhythms , flute and sax again in
tandem with a nice hook.
-mercy mercy me - Marvin's song. a bit too candied for my tastes, but a
pleasant rendition. think Taxi Driver soundtrack.
-bed of nails - my second pick, deep popping groove, sax improv with a
refrain, short glimpse of magic.
-wishbone* - wah-wah again, motown horns, stop/start drums trading licks
with Hammond.
-the chase - dense rhytmn mix, honking sax, piano, and flute with steady
lines and solos all over the scales
-kudu* - hard to pin this one down, pieces of all the above.

Overall, a tasty enough bite for my table that gains character. Very "live"
sound and great beats, that hesitant, halting snare is consistent
throughout and evokes a sort of moonwalk backstep feel to the groove if
that makes any sense. Enjoy.

Next up when time allows: Thus Spoke Z - "Evolution" on the KUDU label,
anyone else know this one?

Later,

Mike

mgrafe@int1.mhrcc.org