Various Artists: The Best of Acid Jazz: In the Mix

"Everybody Loves the Sunshine" kicks off the jamfest is a vocal number from The Soul Society, featuring Roy Ayers. It's worthy of Earth, Wind, and Fire, or at least Earth, Wind, and Cool Breezes.

Sharpshooters follow with "Heavyweight," a synthesizer boogaloo featuring chunky unison horns and power flute. On the funkier end is "fu - yu" from DJ Krush & Toshinori Kondo. There's a terrific keening trumpet in this one, and a backbeat as funky as any in any rap tune. "Soft Touch" by the Chris Bangs Project has some electrified sax.

Also walking the techno rap line is "Too Far Gone" by The 13th Sign. And there's more flute funk from the vocal Reminiscence Quartet, mining a deep groove for "Onde anda o meu amor."

And then - can you believe it? - the venerable Lonnie Liston Smith, veteran of Pharoah Sanders' early Seventies day-glo jazz smashes, purveying some pure funk on "A Chance for Peace (Give Peace a Chance)." I wouldn't have known it was Lonnie, but how many guys are named Lonnie Liston Smith? In the disco organ vein is "No What" by Jazz Not Jazz Massive and "What's That" by the Exodus Quartet.

The horns don't get funkier than on "Size of an Elephant," a Milesian Harmon muted trumpet number by the Powdered Rhino Horns. "Duboniks Comin' Thru" by Duboniks features some good reeds and more kickin' funk. Topping it off is the playful "Movin' on Out" by New Cool Collective.

Kudos to Smash! Excelsior!

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