The fact that Kenny Dixon Jr. a.k.a. Moodymann has named his (technically) sixth record after himself might give us the broad hint that he has finally arrived. Arrived at his own front door, at the door of his music, who knows where, really. All there’s to know is that »Moodymann« is a very personal record, full of references to his musical career: From the beginning of the nineties, starting with the unmatchable »I can’t kick this feeling when it hits«, which he briefly hints at in the intro, over to his signature-track »Freeki MF«, a name often used to describe Modymann himself. In addition, the record is full of links to his personal ideas of what it takes to be human and what it takes to make music – full of references to the music that has inspired him, a mix of soul, jazz and blues. »Moodymann« is also a homage to his hometown Detroit, hinted at through nonchalant ad-libs and into’s from various standup-programs, blaxplotation-films and cultural and political sources of inspiration between Last Poets, Gil-Scott Heron, Sly Stone or Funkadelic. The latter is even granted a cover-version on »Moodymann«, or rather an opulent funk-opera – quite frankly, »Sloppy Cosmic« is the greatest track on the whole record. In summary, with »Moodymann«, Kenny Dixon Jr. remains to be – forgive the phrasing – unique. There’s no other musician in the world who can turn the screws of soul, jazz, disco and house into the perfect position, built to last for eternity.
Moodymann
