The Souljazz Orchestra — Rising Sun

After creating one of the premier afrobeat records of the new century with 2009's Manifesto, Ottawa's The Souljazz Orchestra shift gears to create something reflecting early 1970s jazz-rock.

It's fitting that like its title, Rising Sun begins with a quiet slow introduction called "Awakening," which could be the soundtrack to a crisp, clear dawn with its tempered multi-sax melody and shimmering xylophone/piano accompaniment.

Things quickly pick up with "Agbara." Although it hints at Manifesto's similar direction, it illustrates the group's fresh new approach to their African-inspired big band jazz sound. There's the incendiary multi-instrumented percussion laid across full-on trumpet leads backed by some subtle vocal scatting that provides a brilliant melodic counterpoint to the song's instruments.

"Negus Negast" has more of an Arabian vibe reminding the listener of Dizzy Gillespie's jazz classic "A Night In Tunisia" with the use of kalimba and bongos.

As great as Rising Sun is through the first three compositions, Southjazz don't really capture the album's sentiment until "Lotus Flower." Here, the band unveil a intoxicating mid-tempoed melody, ranking with some of Wayne Shorter's most memorable mid-'60s compositions.

The band do revisit their Manifesto period with the sprawling "Mamaya," with its driving afrobeat rhythms and striking trumpet leads.

The album completes its "day" cycle with a two-part epilogue, "Rejoice." Part one features a piano flourish ideal for that period of day, which soon transforms the sky into twilight. The band quickly move to a dance frenzy with competing sax leads and dizzyingly and driven piano solos on part two.

In the end, Rising Sun continues The Souljazz Orchestra's brilliant musical output as one of the best bands not in this nation but around the world.

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