Antonio's Giraffe

Mackrosoft (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 2, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Wax Orchard
• ASIN: B000EUMKFE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #42,186 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aja West reaches critical mass: 21st century funk-jazz, May 10, 2006

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Antonio's Giraffe (Audio CD)

I first encountered Aja West on that wonderful disc, Flash and Snowball, with pal Cheeba. Since then he's been busy with his various Mackrosoft projects (Straight out of ROMpton, Life Imitates Clouds, 1st Mack to the Moon, and Journey to Vaginus), none of which I've heard, but if this is any indication of their vibe, I'll be wanting to acquire all of them without delay.

Look.

I don't care if this music is "homemade," "flying under the jazz radar," or whatever demeaning label can be put to it: There's some heavy stuff going down hear. How else would the leader be able to secure two of the funkiest dudes on the planet, Mike Clark (drums) and Skerik (saxes), for his gig? Others (some with suspicious names such as Gould Effect [bass and saxophone], Money Mark [organ], and Printz Board [trumpet]), make quite spectacular contributions.

Listen.

This is funk-jazz of the absolute highest order. Showcasing fabulous tunes, brilliant playing, and imaginative production, Antonio's Giraffe is my left-field disc of the year.

By all means, check it out.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No real reference point, January 25, 2008

By 

C. W. Hall "http://www.chriscospins.com" (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Antonio's Giraffe (Audio CD)

A Dust Brother (Cheeba), a peripheral Beastie Boy (Money Mark), a Headhunter (Mike Clark), and a slew of other musicians join producer Aja West's tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim. Throw in the fact that the album is mastered by Brian "Big Bass" Gardner, better known for his work with gangsta rap acts like N.W.A., and you start to see the hodge-podge of influences involved in this record.

Antonio's Giraffe is funky electric jazz. In that, it hints at the music of the other Antonio, but there the similarities end. While Aja West's original compositions harken to the era of Jobim, this is not a cover record.

Rhodes, horns, and drums ride high throughout. The percussion is exceptional as you might expect with a Headhunter manning the kit. There's nothing extravagant, just good solid rhythm for the other players to work from. The strength here is the Rhodes of both West and Alex Veley and the horn interplay.

"Hold Up" gives a perfect example of the Rhodes getting busy. While songs like "The Mighty Loconchu" show the coordination of the horn players at their best.

This is billed as a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim, but outside of the title, I wouldn't have picked up on that. In the end, it doesn't really matter. This is good music that stands on its own without any reference needed.