Mandance cover
Released

The fourth Decoding Society studio album, and the second with the Vernon Reid/Melvin Gibbs/Reverend Bruce Johnson lineup, expands the horn section: saxophonists Zane Massey and Lee Rozie are joined by trumpeters David Gordon and Henry Scott (they play on different tracks). The group’s taut, busy funk has more of a rock edge sometimes; the aptly titled “Spanking” is a burst of blaring horns, punk-rock shredding and rhythmic battery. It’s mixed like a hard rock record, too, thanks to engineer Ron St. Germain. But when Vernon Reid switches from guitar to banjo (“Iola”), a West African feel blows through the room like a cool breeze. Jackson’s drumming, as ever, is a nonstop roll of thunder — the fact that there’s still room for everyone else to be heard is some kind of miracle.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Song for Mother E cover

Song for Mother E

Amina Claudine Myers
Andando el Tiempo cover

Andando el Tiempo

Carla Bley, Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow
Real Gone cover

Real Gone

Tom Waits
Now Then cover

Now Then

Tani Tabbal Trio
Overcome cover

Overcome

Dave Douglas
Funky Donkey, Vols. 1 & 2 cover

Funky Donkey, Vols. 1 & 2

Luther Thomas, Saint Louis Creative Ensemble, Human Arts Ensemble
Dirt…and More Dirt cover

Dirt…and More Dirt

Henry Threadgill
EthioBraz cover

EthioBraz

Large Unit
Footprints Live! cover

Footprints Live!

Wayne Shorter
Superposition cover

Superposition

Superposition
Dance of the Evil Toys cover

Dance of the Evil Toys

Tarbaby, Oliver Lake
Theirs cover

Theirs

Thumbscrew