Nils Landgren - Paint It Blue (CD)

Release Date: 10/01/96

The Nils Landgren Funk Unit classic and the bands 1996 studio debut. With US stars Michael and Randy Brecker and Bernard Purdie as guests.

What is Funk? Funk is Soul with the resources of Jazz: the fluid boundaries between religious service and a party. The record PAINT IT BLUE is dedicated to the man who for many still today embodies the central figure at the genre’s source: Julian Edwin 'Cannonball' Adderley (1928 - 1975). Maybe he didn’t invent Funk. Together with his co-musicians in his 60s quintet, Cannonball’s alto sax style, his attitude, humor great musicality, and his love for his audience allowed him to become a synonym for FUNK. The enormous liveliness and freshness of Cannonball Adderley’s music becomes apparent to anyone listening to Paint it Blue. However Nils Landgren’s second Funk Unit production for ACT is more of a declaration of love to the spirit of Funk à la Cannonball than a musical show of reverence to a deceased idol. Landgren has developed, deliberated and played Cannonball further. Seven of the twelve tracks are his own compositions and, more importantly, every bar of the famous Adderley-numbers like Walk Tall or Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, with all love for the originals, sound like here and now. Nils Landgren has invited top-class guests for his homage: First of all the Brecker brothers, who are best known for their high energy Funk-Jazzrock of the late 70s. The equally noble and forcible groove is delivered by the sideman to countless Soul greats, Bernard Purdie. Landgren’s playing is cool and smooth, with warmth, temperament and thought. Here his sound combines organically with everything he surrounds himself with. The album sounds as if the recordings for it were a pure joy for all participants. Nils Landgren has the prerequisite for serious fun, the gift of intelligent serenity.