R&B/SOUL/URBAN MUSIC

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Artist:	"PANCHO KRYZTAL"
Title:	"PANCHO KRYZTAL"
Label:	Scratchie Records/Mercury
Available:	Most Major Music Stores
Reviewed By:	Jim Jehs
Rating:

Jamaican born Henry Buckley, now Chicago's "Pancho Kryztal," seems an appropriate addition to Scratchie Records. Scratchie Records has six co-owners and two are "Smashing Pumpkins" and another Jerry Freeman, a reggae connoisseur, mainly responsible for signing Pancho. The company is also responsible for the "Frogs" and "Chainsaw Kittens," a diversity in sounds and styles. Pancho presents a sound from down home, mixed with R&B rap. Tony Kelly produces the majority of the songs, a Jamaican himself, bringing dancehall reggae to Chicago rap, and with Pancho's soulful vocals, will tease you to hop on the dance floor. The first track, "Silent Treatment," immediately jumps into the dancehall rhythms, mixing reggae wth pop harmonies, and a sample from "Do That Stuff" by "Parliament." This track represents the women giving the men the silent treatment and acknowledging that feelings must be expressed in order for a relationship to work. The inviting lyrics continue in "I Need You Badly." The harmonies become smoother, reggae and rap intertwining into an addictive beat that makes one want to grab a pitcher of margaritas, a partner, and grind to the rhythms. Pancho seems to come alive in "Real Love." His voice soothes his lover with passion and desire. Pancho romances his lover and his audience with a soulful R&B beat, with short reggae interludes. A grind that slows you down to each movement towards "Real Love!" "Ghetto Love" is in sharp contrast to "Real Love." Pancho posts lyrics about men treating women like meat, pounding it out smoothly, and leaving the leftovers for other men, knowing it's always better on the rich side. "Ghetto Love" breaks out the bass to cause "Trouble," an upbeat rhythmic cut continuing the fluidity, only the story is the women are trouble, as they seduce and grind their way into your life and leave you hangin', literally. "Lethal Weapon" has a rapid beat, as the percussion and Pancho's own style of "toasting" use sex as a weapon to tap into your soul, and bring you to the dance floor. The lyrics are fast, and hard lessons are learned, unless you are able to read between the lines. I get an easy feeling from "Stay On My Mind," kind of a Jamaican "Tequila Sunrise," with strong backup that takes the listener to a passionate, dreamy sunset with addictive rhythms. "Black Girl" brings sweet R&B harmonies to the forefront. A black princess reaches for your soul. A slow steady beat that seduces any man to just about anything she desires if you know what I mean. The roots of Jamaica grow strong in "Gal A Chat," a spicy reggae cut, along with "Miss Man Su," the instrumental content of the drums paces a dancehall rhythm and a return to the Jamaican feeling. Pancho and Scratchie Records production of a mix of rap and reggae, powered by Kryztal's down home soul, is a distinctive sound. The orchestra leader's son is able to intertwine reggae, R&B, and chat style rap that seems to reach a diverse audience. A bravado, progressive sound that has appeal, but these cuts have no breakthrough potential. Pancho is only twenty four, which will allow him to shape his talent and his music with the use of his smooth, passionate lyrics and voice.

Artist:	"VARIOUS ARTISTS"
Title:	"RIDE: Music From The Dimension Motion Picture"
Label:	Tomy Boy Records
Available:	Most Major Music Stores
Reviewed By:	G. Horstman
Rating:

Artist:	"VARIOUS ARTISTS"
Title:	"HOUND DOG TAYLOR: A TRIBUTE"
Label:	Alligator Records
Available:	Any Major Music Store
Reviewed By:	Donn Jehs
Rating:

I'm leary of tribute albums. They're often overblown tour de farces from folks who may have admired the artist but often had little in common with him or her. So it was a pleasure to see the lineup of folks who were on this album. Friends, fans and fellow bluesmen, including Hound Dog's bandmates from "The Houserockers," have contributed their talents to make an album that does the Hound Dog proud. "Hound Dog Taylor" was a Chicago blues institution for over 35 years - playing clubs all over the south and west side with his band "The Houserockers." So much so,that the founder of the label this album is on, started the company for the express purpose of recording his music. Hound Dog recorded four albums between '71 and his death in 1975 of lung cancer. Like a number of artists he has become better known after his death than during his lifetime, being inducted into the "Blue's Foundation Hall of Fame" in 1984, and his debut album received a "Classics of Blues Award" in 1996. There are 14 cuts on the album from artists like "Steady Rollin Bob Margolin," "George Thorogood," and "Gov't Mule," whose new CD is also reviewed in this issue. Besides the great music there are a couple of wonderful asides from "Son Seals" and "Elvin Bishop." Some rocking tunes include "Sonny Landren" doing "Taylor's Rock" with some terrific wailing guitar. Bishop's "Let's Get Funky" rocks hard and fast like the Dog himself. "Freddie's Blues" pours out from "Magic Slim & The Teardrops" like cheap whiskey on a lonely night. The other members of the original Houserockers, Brewer Phillips on guitar and Ted Harvey on drums join Cub Koda to "Take Five," about as close as you can get to having the Hound Dog himself. Many of the guests on this album may be more talented and play better but none play with any more heart than Hound Dog himself, who said, "When I die they'll say. 'he couldn't play shit but he sure made it sound good'." The net proceeds from the sale of this album will be split between Taylor's widow, Freda Horne and "The Blues Community Foundation." And I'm sure Hound Dog Taylor is up there listening to his friends play and uttering his favorite phrase, "I'm with you baby! I'm with you!"

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