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Soulive: Spark

Royal Family

There’s something to be said for playing from the soul, and jazz troupe Soulive most certainly say it, both loud and clear, on their latest release Spark. A 4-track EP that runs longer than many full lengths, Spark brings together Soulive’s intrepid trio with flautist/saxophonist Karl Denson. Over two days of recording, these seasoned musical veterans conjured the smoldering instrumental vibes of early 1970’s soul-jazz legends. Eric Krasno’s guitar eloquently dances on Middle Eastern scales, challenging and inspiring Denson throughout Yusef Lateef’s sultry classic, “Nubian Lady.” Denson returns the favor with his own melodic catharsis on tenor sax, leading Krasno through the sinewy, backroom jazz of “Povo”—a song that trumpeter Freddie Hubbard made famous in 1972. “Spark,” the only original on the album, pays homage to iconic soul-jazz guitarist Melvin Sparks with a deep immersion into an instrumental spirituality that proves that the soul knows no era.