Nils Landgren Funk Unit: Teamwork

Since its heyday during the swing era, the trombone as a solo instrument has all but disappeared from the jazz mainstream, but it lives on in certain sub-genres, notably funk and ska, where its unique articulation suits the hypnotic, staccato grooves. James Brown's trombonist, Fred Wesley, was the man responsible for the signature sound of the trombone in funk, and crowd-pleasing Swedish session-star-turned-band-leader Nils Landgren gives Wesley's sound a contemporary gloss. Lovers of raw funk in the classic tradition of The JBs and Parliament may find Landgren's "funk light" a little sanitised. But the grooves are tight, the horn arrangements lush and the solos firmly "in the pocket". Guest appearances from keyboardist Joe Sample and saxophonist Wilton Felder of The Crusaders add some weight on one track each. nilslandgren.com