TONTON MACOUTE

Man this album is like a warm blanket on a winter's night. Warm, breezy and always jazzy this album veers off into Proto- Prog territory at times which is maybe not so surprising since it was released in 1971. We get sax, clarinet, flute, organ and vibes besides the usual instruments. This is a melodic album with some excellent songs. It's really hard to believe that most Prog fans wouldn't really like this album.

The first three tracks are my top three just to get that out of the way. "Just like Stone" won me over right away with those almost southern rock harmonies bringing THE BAND and ALLMAN BROTHERS to mind. Organ to start then it kicks in with drums, piano and more. Vocals and bass before 2 minutes. I like the instrumental break before 3 1/2 minutes led by the flute, but the vocals return quickly. Some Ron Burgandy-like jazz flute before 4 minutes. What a great opener. "Don't Make Me Cry" opens with organ that brings to mind SUGARLOAF of all bands. Drums, bass and horn joins in. This is quite jazzy as they seem to jam here. Vocals arrive before 2 1/2 minutes singing "Don't make me cry" a few times before he sings other lyrics. Such a groovy sound here. A change before 3 1/2 minutes as piano, drums and bass lead before these passionate vocals kick in. Horns start to blast. The bass starts to walk as the organ and flute return before 5 minutes. Great sound. Piano to the fore at 6 1/2 minutes as the organ and flute stop. The flute is back around 8 minutes. Killer tune.

"Flying South In Winter" is an instrumental and it opens with sparse intricate sounds that come and go including flute reminding me of an orchestra practicing before a gig. It kicks into a flute led groove before 2 minutes. So good! Bass and percussion standout as well. Horns and organ join in before 3 minutes. Solo percussion before 5 minutes but it's brief as it kicks back in.

"Dreams" does have that dreamy sound to start, even the vocals sound that way off in the distance. It picks up each time on the chorus. A Proto-Prog vibe here, especially the harmonies. Fuzzed out guitar after 2 1/2 minutes during an instrumental break then it picks up sounding like a late 60's tune with those vocals. "You Make My Jelly Roll" is the one controversial track on here clocking in at almost 8 minutes. It's jazzy and humerous with the focus on the vocals and piano. It does sound sort of lame like a 50's hit or something. The bass is jazzy too and the horns will replace the vocals before 4 minutes in this prolonged instrumental break where the bass continues to walk and the piano tinkle. Vocals are back after 7 minutes. I don't mind this one as it's kind of charming in it's own way.

"Natural High Part 1" opens with solo piano melodies then the organ kicks in before 1 1/2 minutes followed by vocals, bass then drums. Horns too. Great sound before 2 minutes. What a fantastic instrumental section from before 2 1/2 minutes until after 5 minutes. It picks back up when the vocals return to this catchy groove. "Natural High Part 2" has these intricate sounds as vocal melodies come and go. He's pretty much scatting after a while. Flute joins in as well then the horns blast late to end it.

This is close to 4.5 stars, it's that good. Well worth checking out if you can.