Ronnie Foster
's debut album,
The Two Headed Freap
is a set of contemporary funky soul jazz from the early '70s, which means it sounds closer to the soundtrack of a lost blaxploitation flick than
Back at the Chicken Shack, Pt. 2
.
Foster
certainly does display a debt to
Jimmy Smith
, but his playing is busier than
Smith
's and a bit wilder. Ironic, then, that his playing is in service to the groove and blends into the mix of wah-wah guitars, funk rhythms, electric bass, harps, and percolating percussion. Everything on
is about glitzy groove -- it sounds cinematic, colorful, and funky. It's true that there is little real improvisation here and the songs all have a similar groove, but it's worked well, and the music is ultimately appealing to fans of this genre. Jazz purists -- even soul jazz purists -- will likely find this music a little monotonous and commercial, but fans of early-'70s funk from
Sly Stone
to
Herbie Hancock
will find something of interest here. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine