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Theo Croker – Afro Physicist | Album Of The Day

Trumpeter Theo Croker hails from Shanghai China, and is a protegee of Dee Dee Bridgewater, who produced the albumfor her own label DDB Records. ‘Afro Physicist’ reveals Croker at the beginning of his upward trajectory, an stylish and sleek body of work, comprising mainly of self composed songs. ‘Realize’, ‘Light Skinned Beauty’ typify his brand of what he terms Dark Funk—his designation for the music that he makes. ‘It’s Not You It’s Me’ and ‘Wanting Your Love’ are free flowing and breezly tracks with intricate melodic passages. Dee Dee Bridgewater sings on an incredible cover of Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Can’t Help It’, a real jazz dance shifter which features great percusion from Luisito Quintero. It’s Not You It’s Me (But You Didn’t Help) is another clear highlight, a smooth and melodically superfluous track with muted tumpet and flute combining for great effect against a backdrop of electric keys, syncopated basslines and snappy bongos.  Bridgewater also adds her tones to ‘Save Your Love For Me’ and ‘Moody’s Mood For Love’. Roy Hargrove sings on ‘Roy Allan’, a beautiful mid paced jazz funk groove. An outstanding album, and its first release on vinyl since its 2014 release.

Buy the LP HERE

Listen below

Theo Croker – Alapa (For Doc)
Theo Croker – Realize
Theo Croker – It’s Not You, It’s Me (But You Didn’t Help)
Theo Croker – Light Skinned Beauty
Theo Croker – Wanting Your Love
Theo Croker – Save Your Love For Me
Theo Croker – Visions
Theo Croker – The Fundamentals
Theo Croker – Roy Allan
Theo Croker – Moody’s Mood For Love
Theo Croker – I Can’t Help It
Theo Croker – Bo Masekela