mr. k gets jazzy on this new 12-inch from most excellent unlimited. the breakdown of the smooth r&b staple -street life- stands out with a steady four-on-the-floor pulse that contrasts with the funk backbeat of the verses. working exclusively with this portion, krivit teases out six-and-a-half slinky minutes of sophisticated groove, weaving percussion and vocalist randy crawford s ad-libs in and out of the mix in tantalizing fashion. as a dj, danny krivit is renowned for his willingness to throw a funky curveball into the mix, and for the b-side of this single he gives us a peek at one of his secret weapons. a year after yusef lateef released his hit version of -nubian lady- in 1972, pianist roy meriwether was at a small club in dayton, ohio with his trio and laid down a sprawling live take that covered the entire side of a album, including a bridge that pushed the languid tempo of the original to a sassy upbeat workout. mr. k s edit focuses on this section, leaving us with nine minutes of gritty, get-down funky jazz complete with thunderous drum break. whether working as a surefire party starter or a clever changeup, -nubian lady- is a dancer.

vinyl only ltd ed