Universal Soul

STEREOPLAY-CD des Monats Januar 2004 Klassische schwarze Musik im Stil der 60er und 70er Jahre, die Seele und Körperlichkeit zugleich atmet? Bei der Blues, Soul und Funk aus den Rillen quellen, mal rauchig und verschwitzt, mal elegant und sophisticated? Findet man heutzutage im Grunde nur noch im Oldies-Regal, denn eigentlich ist der Sound von Motown und Stax, von Memphis, Chicago und Detroit längst im Museum gelandet oder bestenfalls als Sample-Fragment auf Computerspeichern. Es sei denn, Routiniers wie Al Green greifen mal wieder zum Mikrophon oder die LMT Connection bequent sich mal wieder in ein Aufnahmestudio. Nie gehört? Kein Wunder: Zwar haben es der einstige Motown-Studiomusiker Leroy Emmanuel (voc, g, perc), der Jazz-geschulte Drummer Mark Rogers und der Ex-Hardrock-Bassist John Irvine seit 1989 auf rund 3500 Livegigs gebracht, aber - 'Universal Soul' mitgerechnet - gerade mal auf drei Plattenaufnahmen. Das zeigt, womit der Hörer es zu tun hat: mit einer wie geölt eingespielten Liveformation, der die Pflege eines authentischen Sounds wichtiger ist als ein Platz im Rampenlicht. 'Universal Soul' nun zeigt die LMT Connection als Black-Music-Ensemble der Extraklasse. Zu versiert gespielten Rhythmen zitiert Emmanuels eleganter, kontrollierter Gitarrenstil Einflüsse von Hendrix über Wes Montgomery bis Santana, pflügt kompetent durch explosiven Electric-Blues ('Expedition'), lässigen Latinrock ('Don t') oder den mondänen Soulfunk eines George benson ('Shiver'). Und überzeugt auch am Mikrofon, mal als markanter 'Soul Man', mal als sanfter 'Lady Lover' im Stil eines Barry White. Ebenfalls sehr hübsch: der 'Live im Studio'-Sound, der dem Original-Klangbild einer Sixties-Produktion verblüffend nahe kommt. Chritof Hammer (Januar 2004) (Stereoplay (Januar 2004))

In this day and age it is unique to find a band that has a presence and sound that command your attention. Back in 1984 Mark Rogers, an up-and-coming jazz drummer attended a club gig in Niagara Falls featuring a soul band from Detroit. Upon hearing the final tune of the night, a slinky instrumental funk groove, he walked up to guitar player Leroy Emmanuel and boldly told him that they should play together. Emmanuel, the experienced Motown alumni with credentials working with some of the top entertainers in the world somehow felt this barely out of high school drummer was for real. A year later Emmanuel returned to Niagara Falls from Detroit, recalled the young drummer's request to jam, tracked him down and they got together to play. Immediately the magic was there. Tight Detroit funk mixed with a fresh, hard hittin' drumming energy. Emmanuel hired Rogers to go on the road with a 10 piece Motown Revue and for the next 4 years they traveled around North America refining their blend of energetic groove. In 1989 the Motown Revue came to an end and Emmanuel and Rogers started a trio. A number of different bass players were tried out but to no avail. As fortune would have it Ottawa native bassist John Irvine relocated to Niagara Falls looking for work. He heard LMT was looking for a permanent bass player and came out to a gig. John had been enjoying success touring in hard rock bands for a number of years without any experience in the funky soul LMT had become known for. He was hired for a trial gig to see what would happen. That night the signature LMT sound was born. Without even the luxury of a rehearsal, Irvine added an unbelievable energy and rawness to the tightly developed jazz funk groove Rogers and Emmanuel had mastered over their five years together. The rest is history. Since 1989 these three musicians have performed over 3500 gigs and released 2 albums. Their first, released in 1992, is 'Sometime Later';, an all-original album of classic, sophisticated R&B. Then in 1999 they followed with 'Outta Control', a dynamic CD capturing the energy of their live show. They have shared the stage with such diverse artists as Motown s Temptations, world-renowned B3 jazz organist Joey Defrancesco, and legendary guitar hero Alex Lifeson of Rush. Their new CD 'Universal Soul' is an all-original CD combining the elements of classic Soul songwriting with an incredible live-off-the-floor studio performance. LMT is also joined by percussionist Emile Latimer (Richie Havens, Nina Simone) keyboardist Brent Setterington (Jacksoul), and 2 songs featuring the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. This new CD contains all the elements that make up LMT's unique sound, an incredible blend of Funk, Jazz, Latin, Blues and R&B - Universal Soul... you get the picture.