Review: War, Platinum Jazz

Artist: War
Album: Platinum Jazz
Year Released: 1977 - Blue Note.
Genre: Jazz / Funk
Rating: (3/4) Awesome

Ahh, the Smooth Sounds of funky jazz. "It's my hometown - it's a Funky-town". From the minute I pull that vinyl out of its shimmering platinum cardboard casing it is all the straight down, funky-town jazz that my high-fi speakers can handle. I sit back, and relax to the straight down sounds that can soothe even the savage beast’s soul.

I must be the first to admit, that the band War is not high on my list of all time favorites (more on that soon), but my hairstylist / funky town DJ recommended if I ever happened across it, I should pick it up and have a listen. Not two weeks later, during a trip down the coast, I happened into a little record store that had promise and began pursuing their stacks of vinyl. And there it was calling out to me with it's platinum colored cover, with the bold statement - Platinum Jazz written across the top. I promptly bought it, and was along my way.

The real treat came the very first time I laid in on the turn-table and let the beats spin on. From the very first song - "War is Coming", which is a soulful ditty chock full of a fusion of Latin beats, and beautiful improvisational jazz skills, all held together by a bass beat that I will be humming in my head for years. I could feel myself dancing in that funky style as the guys sang out loud with all their might “War is coming”. I did feel that it was a bit strange that they kept singing about such an awful topic. It wasn’t until near the end that I figured the band’s name is War as well, and that was what they were referring to. The song with its soulful groove keeps building and building straight to the end, until there is more energy than my white little shoes could handle. Could I take much more than this?

The crowning moment of the entire compilation was a song entitled “City, Country, City”, or so I had been told. As the song began to play, I took heart, for the light ballad that ensued was just as refreshing as a country breeze is to one’s face. I could actually imagine the wind blowing through my hair as I took an imaginary stroll through the musically painted countryside. Oh what a beautiful sight it was. And then, just as suddenly, there was that fast paced city beat, and there went my feet. It was such a grand transition of improve skills it was if one had walked through a door way, leaving the country side behind in favor of the more exciting life of the urban city. One can not help walk with a smile through the city streets while imagining the hustle and bustle of your busy day tuned to the sounds of the jazz masters themselves. This transition happens upon a few more occasions back and forth between the city, and the country as if there were no difference at all.

The album in its entirety is a great treasure, and a valued addition to any collection. There are a few moments where it appears the band is having way more fun playing than I am listening, not being an active participant in the fusion jazz creation. But I find my self over and over pulling it out, and letting my feet groove to funky-town.

War is: Lee Oskar, Harold Brown, Dee Allen, Howard Scott, B.B. Dickerson, Charles Miller, and Lonnie Jordan.
Album Produced by: Jerry Goldstein.