Band Members
- Rick Shadrach Lazar: percussion and rap vocal
- Collin Barrett: electric and fretless bass
- Lester Boyke: electric bass and cowbell
- John Johnson: Woodwinds and triangle
- Mark Kelso: drums, surdo and gankogui bell 2
- Hugh Marsh: electric violin and voice
- Gordon Sheard: piano, keyboards, organ, accordion, Pandeiro, Tamborim and voice
Special Guests
- Luis Angel Marquez “Maikel”: lead vocal and hand claps
- Junior Santos: voice
- Lazer Currant: ragamuffin rap on Yo Drummer
- Daniel Janke: kora
- Janet “Collie” McClelland: gankogui bell 3, hand claps and rap chorus
- Sonia Collymore: rap chorus on Yo Drummer
Credits
- Produced by Montuno Police
- Executive Producers: Rick Shadrach Lazar and Serge Sloimovits
- Recording Engineers: Lenny Derose, Dave Horner and Walter Sobczak
- Recorded at Reaction Studios, Toronto, Canada
- Vocal overdubs on Mambo Squad and Sara Gode recorded at Metal Works Studio, Toronto, Canada
- All songs mixed by Jeff Wolpert, except Yo Drummer – mixed by Walter Sobczak and Collin Barrett
- Mixed at McClear Pathe Studios, Toronto, Canada
- Assistant engineers at Reaction: Tom Heron and Jeff Elliot
Tracks
- Canoa Quebrada — Gordon Sheard — Broken Canoe, a town in Brazil.
- Dr. Livingstone (I Presume?) — Gordon Sheard — A night in the life of a musician as he wonders through the musical underground of the big city.
- Mambo Squad — music Gordon Sheard, lyrics Luis Angel Marquez, rhythm arrangement Rick Shadrach Lazar — In this composition we pay our respects to the music of Cuba but can’t help adding some North American twists.
- Naomi — Daniel Jenke — I’ve always loved this spiralling melody of Daniel’s.
- Toof Ache — Hugh Marsh — Listening to this song will give you an idea of the twisted complexities of Hubie’s wondrous mind.
- Touch — Rick Shadrach Lazar, John Johnson — Taksim for two – I touch the drumskin on skin. J.J. is “the call”. Together we touch the spirit.
- Arabian Knights — Rick Shadrach Lazar and Gordon Sheard — A musical carpet ride from the Mother roots of Baghdad to 90’s Toronto via steamy Havana.
- Sereia (Siren Song) — Gordon Sheard — Gord’s Brazilian heart.
- Trompe – L’Oreille (Fool the Ear) — Gordon Sheard — Where’s the one?
- Prayer
- Sara Gode — (A traditional Afro-Cuban melody of the Santeria religion of Cuba…) a beautiful melody – the lyrics in the Arará language are a call to the god of health and bountiful harvest, Asuano.
- Hangover Tango — Rick Shadrach Lazar, Mark Kelso, Gordon Sheard — This song has nothing whatsoever to do with tango. It’s just a “blowing buzz” for the drums in 7/4 and 2/8.
- Yo Drummer — lyrics, Rick Shadrach Lazar – music, Hugh Marsh and Collin Barrett — A Rap history of the path of the drum as it travelled from West Africa to North America.
Assistant engineers at McClear Pathe: Vic Florencia and Sal Grimaldi | Art and Design: Martin Tielli and David Schellenberg | Photos: Denise Grant
All songs published by Macaco Music and Eiffel Dog publishing except Yo Drummer: Mighty Orso music, Znefu Music and Eiffel Dog Publishing.
Arabian Nights: Mighty Orso music, Macaco Music, Eiffel Dog Publishing.
Toof Ache: Znefu Music
Touch: Mighty Orso Music, Eiffel Dog Publishing.
Naomi: Daniel Janke music.
© Copyright – Rick Lazar / Dark Light (888174790008) Jazz: World Fusion | Release Date: 1995