Pianist and contemporary jazz icon
Ramsey Lewis revisits his classic 1974 electric jazz-funk album
Sun Goddess for 2011's
Ramsey, Taking Another Look. Featuring a newly minted lineup of his '70s electric band,
Taking Another Look features keyboardist
Mike Logan, guitarist
Henry Johnson, bassist
Joshua Ramos, and drummer
Charles Heath, all of whom reveal a knack for the funky, soulful jazz
Lewis is reinvestigating here. Included are reworkings such classic '70s tracks as "Tambura," "Love Song," and "Jungle Strut." These are dance-oriented jazz-funk cuts with an organic, groove-oriented vibe that stick closely to the original '70s conception. In fact, the original version of
Lewis' hit "Sun Goddess" is included and rounds out the album nicely. Which isn't to say that this is solely a retro-leaning venture. On the contrary, as with the rest of the album, tracks such as the dramatic, midtempo funk number "To Know Her" and the lush ballad "Sharing Her Journey" are expertly produced contemporary jazz numbers.