- Artist
- The Mitchell & Dewbury Band
- Label
- Mr Bongo Records
- Release date
- 23rd April 2007
- Genre
- Jazz / funk / Latin
Another cocktail? The Latino-jazz-funk soundtrack to your summer is here
With the weather so unusually warm for April, the release of this aptly-titled, sun-drenched album of Latino-jazz-funk could not be timed better – and you wouldn’t expect anything else from two of the powerhouses of the British scene.
Russ Dewbury literally is the Jazz Rooms, the world famous Brighton club now in its 20th year, and has worked with such legends as Terry Callier and Pharoah Sanders. As for Ben Mitchell, he is equally acclaimed – a producer, DJ and remixer who has worked with Faze Action, Arthur Baker and even Dusty Springfield.
Thus, Beyond The Rains is the kind of immaculately executed collection of grooves, workouts and "journeys" you’d expect from the pair. They know how their club bangers should sound so they’ve recorded their own with a selection of internationally renowned chums.
It’s essentially an album in three movements: dancefloor, chillout, dancefloor. The title track is all frantic beachside Latin rhythms and floaty jazz flutes, while Rapping With The Gods slams its brass fanfares into an irresistible funk section, led by Billie Godfrey’s soulful voice. Beyond The Rains’ upbeat conclusion also takes in afro-funk (Living... Am I Living) and Latin jazz (Jazz Is Your Life) before winding up with an exhilarating drum & bass reworking of the title track by Drumagick.
In between, the album somewhat sags in its more chilled moments. While Terry Callier’s velvety croon gives the gloopy funk of Darker Than A Shadow a moody sensuality, other tracks veer towards bland, irritating dinner jazz, as on Kaleidoscope. Scat singing even makes it onto My Words without a hint of irony.
But despite its cheesy interludes, occasional jazz meanderings and overbearing "positive vibes", this is a definitive jazz/funk/soul collection from the scene’s leading lights. If that long hot summer comes, Beyond The Rains will be essential listening.
DJs to check out: Gilles Peterson Rainer Trüby Kevin Beadle Spiritual South
