LISTEN UP

Jones & the Dap-Kings do what their title says

Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings Give the People What They Want Daptone A-

If the people want the raw drive of classic R&B in the horn-drenched Memphis/Motown traditions, then the rousing Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings are giving the people what they want. On this, their fifth album, Jones and the band give their best yet.

Jones’ big, sassy voice shakes and rocks the house with soul and power. The thunderous drums of the opening tune, “Retreat!” a kiss-off of old boyfriends, has a harder rockin’ Motown vibe with spacey instrumental touches midway as Jones’ voice cuts through a hot arrangement Martha Reeves &the Vandellas and En Vogue would probably have loved. “Stranger to My Happiness” recalls those wonderful Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland Motown (Four Tops, Supremes, et al) tunes, with its prominent saxophone and backup vocalists (here, The Dapettes). Jones blazes on this and it should pack a dance floor. Retro and oh-so-cool.

When they aren’t kicking out the funky jams, Jones is testifyin’ on the midtempo “We Get Along” that hints at Al Green’s sound.

She roars and struts with attitude to spare, determination and grit filling every note as she carves out her own distinctive path among the rich vein of classic soul singers.

Available today.

Hot tracks: “Stranger to My Happiness,” “We Get Along,” the funky “People Don’t Get What They Deserve,” “Retreat!” - ELLIS WIDNER

Shearwater Fellow Travelers Sub Pop B

Well, here’s a different take on a road album. Austin, Texas, indie rockers Shearwater gathered members of bands they’d played with over the years for an album of cover songs. The result, somehow, is an amazingly cohesive, organic gathering of songs and artists, all united by their time on the unending road that stretches before the vans and (sometimes) tractor-trailers of touring musicians.

Hot tracks: “Natural One” (originally by Folk Implosion and perhaps the most straightforward cover here); “I Love The Valley OH” (Xiu Xiu cover); “Cheerleader” (St. Vincent cover).

  • SEAN CLANCY

Luke Celenza Back & Forth Qualita B

This debut album from 21-year-old jazz pianist Luke Celenza features 12 original compositions that veer back and forth between pop and swing. His instrumentals are lyrical and melodic, with mostly 4/4 time signatures and verse-chorus forms. Because of the tautly integrated instrumentation and richly patterned rhythms, the brief, almost truncated cuts still manage to sound densely layered and highly sophisticated. It will be interesting to see if this young musician produces more meandering, less structured pieces in the future.

Accompanied with bass, drums and saxophone, Celenza’s keyboard style, honed at the Manhattan School of Music, is influenced by Grammy award-winning Dominican pianist Michel Camilo, a longtime friend of the Celenza family.

Hot tracks: “Blues,” “Jupiter and Mars,” “Three Point Five.” - KAREN MARTIN

Style, Pages 29 on 01/14/2014

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