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Ali Baba’s Tahini : Living Room

SCI Fidelity Records

Umphrey’s McGee axeman Jake Cinninger reunites with Karl Engelmann (author of many McGee standards) and drummer Steve Krojenewki for this dazzling fourth Ali Baba’s Tahini release. The album finds Engelmann’s songwriting brilliance bolstered throughout by Cinninger’s production work and artful guitar. Not only a master of using radical vocal tempo shifts and cunning word play, Engelmann is also a skilled vocalist—equally adept at delivering the scathing indictment of modern-day sedentariness which is “Dose of the Real World,” or the wistful “Bicycle” or even the markedly heartfelt title track.

Bassist Jeff Hinkle drives the positive vibration of “Unity” with a Roots-Reggae groove and fellow ABT newbie Justin Powell’s keyboards move to the front at the end of the mesmerizing “Altitude.” Cinninger’s Temptation” serves as a soulful lead-in to the charged “Cold Beers at Mickey’s Pub” celebrating the late ‘90s South Bend music scene from which Ali Baba’s and Umphrey’s each sprang. Rob Turner