Cymande – Cymande 1972,Jazz, Rock, Funk Soul

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Cymande – Cymande 1972,Jazz, Rock, Funk - Soul

“Zion I” is a spiritual chant put to music, setting the mood for Cymande. A laid-back “One More” lulls you into subliminal meditation before “Getting It Back” jolts you into some scintillating Jamaican funk-fusion. There’s a message in many of Cymande’s cuts, with “Listen” and “Bra” (a recognition of the women’s lib movement), the most inspiring. Both are sung with passion, and are skillfully executed; the former is slow and painstaking in its message, while “Bra” slaps you upside the head with a stirring sax solo and bass-fueled vamp.

An air of supreme coolness permeates Cymande, unusual for a first effort written by members of the band. Cymandesound like they have done this before; nowhere is this more evident than on the beautiful “Dove” a gorgeous concoction of lead guitar, tambourines, haunting backing vocals, and percussion, with the horns used as sparingly as table-seasoning on a gourmet dish. Along with “Bra” the group’s most popular cut is “The Message” — it’s difficult keeping body parts still on this grooving mutha.

All in all, Cymande is a marvelous collection that premiered a fine funk band.
Review by Goregirl

Well after hearing their awesome tune “The Message” on the Funk Box I was inspired to hear more. They aren’t your typical funk band however, they are ecclectic involving really cool elements of soul, reggae, blues and jazz. They remind me a bit of a more psychedelic version of WAR. They are a eight member band who’s personnel hails from all over the Caribbean which is likely what gives their sound such variety. They are all apparently self-taught which makes this all the more impressive, the guitarist particularly shines, some seriously fabulous playing (I think Red Hot Chili Peppers must have been fans). It starts out with the joyful tune “Zion I“, which goes on to the slower more laid back instrumental number “One More“. This get a little more reggae when we get into “Getting It Back” which reminds me heavily of Bob Marley though it builds into something a bit funkier. “Listen” is more subdued, but the congo work on here is pretty nifty. Speaking of which “Rickshaw” has a really cool congo intro and it starts to sound a bit like a deflated instrumental version of “Low Rider” not that I mind.

“Dove” has a really interesting atmospheric sound to it, it’s quite epic clocking in at nearly eleven minutes. Actually their band name apparently translates from the Calypso language into the word Dove so perhaps it’s their theme? “Bra” was sampled by such greats as Grandmaster Flash, Kool DJ Herc and De La Soul it’s definitely one of the best on here. Then of course their biggest hit, “The Message” which is another favorite of mine. Then the end this one off with “Rastafarian Folk Song” which starts out with talking, and ends up with a celebratory sounding about Allah and Jah and all that good stuff. This is relatively unheard of, seriously one of the best unknown funk bands around that nearly everyone should love.

All in all, Cymande is a marvelous collection that premiered a fine funk band.


Tracks


A1 Zion I 0:00

A2 One More 3:26

A3 Getting It Back 6:34

A4 Listen 11:00

A5 Rickshaw 15:45


B1 Dove 21:42

B2 Bra 32:40

B3 The Message 37:50

B4 Ras Tafarian Folk Song 42:11



Alto Saxophone, Flute, Bongos – Mike Rose*
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Derek Gibbs
Bass Guitar – Steve Scipio
Congas – Pablo Gonsales
Coordinator – Mia Krinsky
Drums – Sam Kelly
Guitar – Patrick Patterson
Liner Notes – Cymande
Mastered By – RL*
Producer, Sleeve Notes – John Schroeder
Supervised By – Bob Scerbo
Tenor Saxophone – Peter Serreo
Vocals, Percussion – Joey Dee (2), Ray King