CLEVELAND EATON Vinyl & CDs

Review: Cleveland Eaton had an accomplished life as a jazz musician, whether throwing down on piano, saxophone, trumpet, tuba or bass, up to his passing in 2020. As well as recording for the legendary Black Jazz, in 1973 he also released this armour-plated heater on Gamble. The cover is something else, it must be said, but the grooves contained within will soon dispel any prior judgements. These are hot and heavy instrumental funk-outs for crate-diggers, beat-flippers and those who simply enjoy losing themselves in the finest funk money can buy. With some familiar versions slipped in from 'Day Dreaming' to 'Betcha By Golly Wow', there's also a comforting familiarity to the music, even if it sounds like nothing else you've heard before.