Michael Wolff
follows his highly successful year 2000 debut,
Impure Thoughts
, with
Intoxicate
, a darkly alluring collection of transcendent grooves, exotic Indian tablas, and Brazilian percussion.
Wolff
's bandmates, collectively known as
, provide exciting, enjoyable
improvisations
that complement
's piano prowess. Eight-string guitarist
Charlie Hunter
and master remixer
Master T
, who adds a hip
drum'n'bass
-tinged remix of
Wayne Shorter
's
jazz
standard
"Witch Hunt"
on the bonus track, are among the guests on the CD. The ensemble delivers a brilliant cover of
Lee Morgan
's masterwork
"Sidewinder,"
underscoring it with brilliant colors and compelling solos.
Marvin Gaye
R&B
hit
"Sexual Healing"
features
Hunter
in another eclectic Indian setting, while
"Cool"
is
's centerpiece, featuring him on acoustic piano accompanied by tabla, berimbau, and bass. Overall,
surpasses
's debut because of its wealth of innovative
world
rhythms,
jam band
appeal, interesting takes on old friends (in this case,
"Sidewinder"
and
), and the topnotch originality and use of Indian music fused with
soul
. ~ Paula Edelstein