Jestofunk - Universal Mother (1998)

Jestofunk, the cream of Italy's fantastic IRMA Records, returns with another album of their own potent stew of electronica, jazz, and funk. For those who haven't heard the group, it's best to start with Love in a Black Dimension, as this serves as a better introduction to the Jestofunk credo and style; long-time fans most likely have had this album before its (finally) U.S. release and knew what to expect. Universal Mother is neither better nor worse than its predecessor; it seems to be more of a continuation of the first album...play them back-to-back to hear what I'm saying. The group has expanded its sound a bit, but there really isn't much room for improvement here, only small refinements, as Jestofunk was already at the top of its game. Once again, the group serves up some of the finest jazz-dance music around...you COULD call them acid-jazz, I suppose, but Jestofunk is so much more than that. Great horns (Fred Wesley returns!) and beats...this one's a must buy, kids. ~ Amazon.com