 Music Reviews
Jack Costanzo: Back From Havana
 Ubiquity Records
Opening with a fast punch and a double time shuffle, Jack Costanzo is a man well steeped in Afro-Cuban percussive jazz. Back From Havana is an impressive line up of 13 traditional jazz pieces and two originals, brimming top with salsa and groove in a Cuban-Bebop or 'CuBop' festival.
The shine-out tracks include the Miles Davis classic 'Milestones', and 'Descarga', which capture the sound and rhythm of Latin jazz perfectly and the beautiful 'Airegin' composed by Sonny Rollins. With over 60 years of playing music, Jack Constanzo knows how to add to add a bit of spice to your life.
Long Beach Dub Allstars: Wonders of the World
 Skunk/DreamWorks Records
This album is for all the dub-heads. The first single, 'Sunny Hours' - currently enjoying Triple J airplay - is an opus for the optimist, sending out a message to walk tall via Black Eyed Pea's front man Will.I.Am on vocals
The Long Beach Dub Allstars began their career back in the early 90s ska movement. They came together in the wake of US band Sublime. The surf-ska influenced rhythm section pushed on and formed today's leading reggae/dub band recruiting members like Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, Paulie Selector of The Burn Unit and other fine skankers for Wonders of the World.
With 17 fine tracks, this effort from the Californian seven piece surpasses the rest of their Dub-ska peers.
Tomahawk
Shock/Ipecac Rec.
Tomahawk play in a style reminiscent of the Mark of Cain and Helmut. As the latest pretenders to the heavy-grunge crown, they're a force to be reckoned with. Comprising from members from such influential bands as Mr Bungle, Fantomas, Faith No More, Helmut, Jesus Lizard and the Mark of Cain, Tomahawk is a dark meshing of all those bands plus new directions into heavy onslaughts of grunge and chilling moments of silence.
Their self-titled debut features 13 tracks and while not a one sounds alike, they all have that familiar Mark of Cain rhythmic drive. The guitars are dirty; the vocals are powerful and soaring even in the loudest parts.
Fatboy Slim: Live on Brighton Beach
Coming straight out of the same illegitimate drug scene as many pioneering DJs, Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim has brought Big Beat electronica into a new realm. Cook quickly climbed the ladder to success with his remixing skills.
Live on Brighton Beach is a collection of all Fatboy's favourite remixes live and furiously kicking. There's Basement Jaxx's version of Where's your head at, Underworld and even a few Fatboy Slim tracks as well.
The production and music is amazing. Cook really knows his stuff. But like most jokes, you just had to be there when he put on this summer of lovin' for the locals in his town. A good live dance album.
Ewan Williams
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