Review

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: Showtime! (Daptone Records)

Producer and bassist of the fabulous Dap-Kings, Bosco Mann, has put together this tasty platter consisting of twelve unreleased tracks of live faves and B- sides.

Kicking off proceedings my number one choice on the album, "Genuine Pt.1." With choppy horns and guitar on a nitty-gritty slice of JB inspired funk adorning this track, the former Rikers Island Prison guard Ms Jones shows us all who exactly is boss - so don't argue or she'll take you off in handcuffs!! "Genuine Pt.2" sees the band stretch out on the good foot, perhaps a benchmark by which all subsequent Deep Funk bands must be measured by!

The live feel they've got on this album is superb, blending the collective into a well honed cohesive whole. "Longer And Stronger" seems to echoes Jones' life while delivering with deep Southern Soul ballad and riff laden Memphis type horns. The baritone sax lines are outstanding and the arrangement on these well worn chords of a thousand soul tunes stills manages to sound fresh.

"He Said I Can" sees Jones trusting a fella to look after her and she seems to be smitten! A slowgrinder again, with a fantastic horn arrangement and a gorgeous slice of vibrato wah wah guitar blessedness-FAT! A touch of Afrobeat creeps in on "I'm on Not Gonna Cry" (no doubt The US is finally being turned on by the genre thanks to the enormous success of Fela! The Musical. Hallelujah that's what I say!)

Jones & Co don't appear to be hitting a fallow period with this new record. It's an absolute bona fide corker: the virtuoso talents and vitality of the band plus the energy and lyrics of the main woman herself give no hint at all that this lady is letting up. And for that, we should be thankful. All the numbers here are as in the pocket as you will ever hear in the very best tradition of old school soul and funk.
Words Emrys Baird