In a delightful metier of jazz-soul-funk we hear tenor saxophonist Iman Spaargaren with his new band EyeMan All-Stars on the album Sly Fly.
For music click here for the Sly Fly bandcamp
The new album Sly Fly by saxophonist Iman Spaargaren and the EyeMan All-Stars is full of wonderful laid back played 70’s jazz-soul-funk pieces. All compositions were written bySpaargaren, except for Witch Hunt which Wayne Shortercomposed in 1966 for his legendary LP Speak no Evil. Iman Spaargarencomposed very catchy melodies. Great themes with tight rhythm, beautiful breaks, performed accurately by pianist Dirk Balthaus, double bassist Hendrik Müller and drummer Efraïm Schulz-Wackerbarth. Saxophonist Spaargaren sounds like Charles Lloyd and here and there the double timing of Charlie Parker. His playing is smooth and dynamic. He navigates with ease through the rhythmic and harmonic landscape of his EyeMan All-Stars. All musicians play great solo’s. For example, we hear a characteristic bass solo in Sly Fly. Inventive how Müller variates the theme in the warm sound of the double bass. Drummer Schulz shines in Witch Hunt with a surprising drum solo that leans against the polyrhythmic and ‘dances’ over the firm accents of bass and piano. Pianist Dirk Balthaus is the lyricist of the foursome. He carefully chooses his notes and creates (like Iman) new melodies and thematic variations in his solos. We hear him on Fender Rhodes and acoustic piano. The timbre of Herbie Hancock is undeniably reflected in his playing. Sly Fly is a groovy album with cheerful pieces played with verve. A way of making music that is always great, but in these uncertain Corona times, it provides a real boost!
- EyeMan All-Stars: Sly Fly (EyeMan Records 003)
