Anyone who knows the Italian band Mop Mop knows that it occupies a very special place in the twilight zone between jazz, funk and Latin. They not only specialize in extremely danceable jazz, but also in spherical film music. Jazz lover Woody Allen has also discovered the latter, because Mop Mop was prominently present on the soundtrack of To Rome With Love. Isle Of Magic is the fourth studio album
… by Italian producer Andrea Benini and his musicians. This time funk legend Fred Wesley, singer / poet Anthony Joseph and Finnish-Egyptian singer Sara Sayed were invited as guests. Especially the songs with Joseph justify the title Isle Of Magic because of their voodoo-like character: mesmerizing music with many drums, a single stray bamboo flute and an irresistible solo marimba. The rest of the CD also moves in an exotic direction. Lots of music in which jungle noises, screeching monkeys, and the sound of the surf would not be out of place. The brooding character of Isle Of Magic is reminiscent of gallons of sweat lost during a sweltering summer. Not just warm, but boiling hot. (AD)more
