Sometimes, the things that are happening here at JazzandSoul HQ are too good to be true. For example, when a musician of one of your all time favourite bands contacts you for a review. So that's exactly what happened when George Anderson, the bassplayer for Shakatak found his way to our movement with his first solo project entitled Positivity.
Now when the album dropped in I expected, logicaly I think, a set of tracks with the emphasis on the bass arrangements ... well .. not quite. Don't misunderstand me, the bass licks on Positivity are delicious, but George did try however to come up with a CD that offers more ... a lot more.
The warm vocals of Fil Strughan and Shakatak guest singer Debby Bracknell invite the listener with a message of positivity in the openers Lay ur hands on Me and What I gonna Do. Two solid soulful jams.
It ain't Over flirts with salsa and dance as organ and horns collapse in this killer track. Another aspect that strikes me when listening to Positivity is the fact that Anderson didn't try to approximate the typical Shakatak sound. The same scent is present, with the same flawless production and the clean vocal harmonies, especially in compositions as Beauty inner Smile or Wonder of U, but it still is different in some pleasant way.
I admire the fact a lot, and it's prove of the artist's courage and
versatility that George Anderson didn't etalate his debut album as the showcase of a very talented bassplayer. Instead the record has become a frivolous, optimistic and high quality collection of tunes with a diversity in styles and sounds.
I already was a fan of Shakatak's music, from today on I'm also a big fan of the bassplayer's music.
A very nice surprise indeed and a highly recommended disc in its genre.

A Teach review

George Anderson Linxxx

> George Anderson Official Website