Karl Denson - Dance Lesson #2 (CD)

All Music Guide

Karl Denson wants you to dance to his music. That's why the former Greyboy Allstars frontman named his first solo album Dance Lesson 2. The disc is a collection of funky, souldriven tracks highlighted by Denson's fiery extended saxophone solos. Like a true student of jazz, Denson is always experimenting with new collaborations. Instead of enlisting his touring Tiny Universe band, he pulled together a lineup of musical heavyweights including Medeski, Martin Wood bassist Chris Wood, turntable specialist DJ Logic, legendary organists Leon Spencer Jr. and Ron Levy, aweinspiring guitarists Melvin Sparks and Charlie Hunter, exGreyboy Allstars drummer Zak Najor, and Los Cubanos Postizos percussionist E.J. Rodriguez. The album is a jazz hybrid that flows from the straightahead beauty of "A.J. Bustah" to the uptempo title track, which is invigorated by DJ Logic's scratching and the contrast between Denson's marching flute and wailing sax. "A Shorter Path 1" is a sweet tune that provides the th...eme for "A Shorter Path 2," a stretchedout smooth jazz exploration of "Path 1." Throughout the album, Denson's danceinducing, driving groove infuses each inventive track with contagious energy. - Carrie Nieman, All Music Guide Read more Less