New York session great and longtime
Harry Belafonte percussionist
Ralph MacDonald made his solo debut with
Sound of a Drum, successfully fusing the strong Latin flavor of his previous work with the funk and disco sounds dominating clubs in bicentennial America. The title is no misnomer -- each song is a showcase for
MacDonald's blistering percussion talents, but he never loses the humility and instincts of a sideman, allowing an expert cast including
Grover Washington, Jr.,
Bob James, and
Toots Thielemans their own turns in the spotlight as well. The eight-minute "Calypso Breakdown" is by far the best-known cut here, thanks to its inclusion on the mega-selling
Saturday Night Fever soundtrack -- it remains a monster groove that's dated much better than many disco-era instrumentals, thanks in large part to
William Eaton's clever, jazz-inspired arrangement and
Eric Gale's ferocious guitar solo.