MOJOMEN (SAXMAN SYRJÄNEN & JUKKA GUSTAVSON)

After Jukka had played in many Finnish roots-style bands, he met saxplayer Panu Syrj'nen and they both realised they shared a love to sixties blues, jazz, soul & rhythm & blues. They decided to start own band and got Janne Rajala in bass and Leevi Lepp'nen to drums. All these musicians except Jukka have played in the back of many Finnish Schlager music singers, but have to say about Leevi he was in a great Finnish prog band Scapa Flow and also in the Pekka Pohjola Group. As in all Jukka's albums, these players are all very skilfull. So sad this band seems to be shortlived as many other Jukka`s bands for example Sahti & Moments. They have made only few gigs in past years, not any in this year.

Album starts with title song in a very groovy way. Jukka sings about mojomen that I believe are the great influences to this band. The name 'Marching Free Style' tells everything about this next instrumental track. It's boogie rhythm based, but includes typical Jukka`s experimental chords. 'Just Another Band From Hoochie Koo' is again very groovy, lots of New Orleans-style song where Jukka sings about the difficulties to start a band. 'Black Olives' goes more jazz direction and reminds a lot Santana. 'Beauty and the Blues' is funky, very much Steve Wonder influenced piece. 'Giants and Dragons' also has Stevie Wonder influences, but also is the most prog piece in this album and reminds earlier melodic Jukka solo album songs. 'Inspired and Dedicated To' is very ordinary swing jazz piece and is the only little bit boring track. 'Fulltime Blues' is quite ordinary blues song, but has also some jazz flavour. The ending tracks 'Giant Waterbug' and 'Closing Time' are made by Panu and both very jazzy, instrumantal tracks. The second reminds in a very great way the atmosphere of smokey jazz club in the closing time.

I think it's not easy to make good roots-style album these days just for the reason there has made so many great ones already. Have to say here is one of the best roots-albums in the 2000`s! These guys just know how to make roots music grooving and not too clean. If you're listening only prog, I believe this is not your album at all. But if you're liking artists like Dr. John & the first Colosseum, I believe you will love this album! Definitely this album deserves four stars just for the quality of the music, but because it's not essential to proglisteners, I'll give it three.