Omri Ziegele Where's Africa: That Hat

Omri Ziegele, the Zürich-based saxophonist, makes music with his big band Billiger Bauer and in duo format with pianist Irene Schweizer, and also with his smaller groups, Noisy Minority and Where's Africa. He has established himself as a major force in the Zürich jazz scene and as a major artist for Intakt Records. That Hat, his eleventh album for the label, features his Where's Africa trio, with keyboardist Yves Theiler and drummer Dario Sisera .

It isn't always the case with Ziegele, or for Intakt Records for that matter, but That Hat is a catchy, groove-heavy, accessible set of songs. Keyboardist Theiler is brilliant on the keyboards—on electric piano, playing the booty-shaking bass parts with a Ktron GP1 with one hand, and laying down scintillating lines and on the Rhodes Mark II with his right hand. Herbie Hancock's 1970s fusion days come to mind, and Chick Corea's Elektric Band, too.

For his part, Ziegele's saxophone has a tart, Zulu jive meets Henry Threadgill tone. All of the sounds here sound ripe for rip-off by the samplers of the world, with the danceable rhythms backdropping ebullient melodies from a joyful horn. Add some appealing chant-like singing on two tunes from the leader, and his occasional use of the Uzbek nai flute—on the gorgeous and reflective "Carpathian Folk Song"—adding more layering to the music that sounds at times simple, poppish. But it is a "simple" like Stevie Wonder's music is simple, or Herbie Hancock's Weather Report sets. Listen ten times, you'll hear new things with each spin. And you might just get up and cut a rug.

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