Review: DJ 2-Tone Jones' Shaolin Jazz: The 37th Chamber

Shaolin Jazz EPK

If you suspect that classic Wu-Tang Clan material re-imagined as the work of a jazz-based collective would be exactly my thing, well, you have me pegged. I represent precisely the target audience for DJ 2-Tone Jones' Shaolin Jazz: The 37th Chamber.

The train-spotting aspect of the new free mixtape has already provided me with hours of pleasure.

Is that the Blackbyrds on "The High Priestess of Chessboxin'"? Wait, is that Fela during this interlude? Hey, that's Pharoah Sanders' "Astral Traveling" behind "C.R.E.A.M."! I can't believe he thought to combine Ramsey Lewis' version of "Quinn the Eskimo" and "Method Man." Is DJ 2-Tone Jones mocking Redman and Method Man's juvenile "How High"? Hilarious!

Is Shaolin Jazz greater than the sum of its parts? No, of course not. Herbie Hancock's essential Blue Note sessions and Liquid Swords are already perfect. But DJ 2-Tone Jones has nonetheless created something new, something that should also have lasting value.

Aside from dealing with the noxious nature of Mediafire, adventurous There Stands the Glass readers and Gil Scott-Heron fans have nothing to lose. Go get it. "The combination," as Raekwon suggested, will make your "eyes bleed."

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I reviewed Mac Lethal's new North Korean BBQ mixtape. (Spoiler: I like it a lot.)

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UMKC professor Zhou Long was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in music this week.

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Gerard Smith of TV on the Radio has died.

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Terry Currier reports that Kent Morrill of the Fabulous Wailers has died.

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Big band leader Orrin Tucker died April 9.

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Kansas City Click: I'll break my KC-only rule to recommend Soul Track Mind's Thursday appearance at the Bottleneck in Lawrence. RIYL: Charles Bradley, Delbert McClinton and Eddie Hinton.

Longtime There Stands the Glass favorite Steddy P. tops Friday's bill at the Record Bar.

Red Line Chemistry have an acoustic in-store lined up at FYE in Independence on Saturday.

Here comes a regular. I'll be at the Record Bar on Sunday. Here's an invitation I made at Card Karma.

Deftones and Dillinger Escape Plan hit the VooDoo on Monday.

(Original image by There Stands the Glass.)