Full Circle
Delmark, 2025
9/10
An assembly of historical recordings made by Jimmy Burns as a youngster, the songs here previously lived as 45 rpm vinyl split singles in the '60's, and they sound great all these decades later with a fresh coat of paint.
The warm grooves of “Express Yourself” starts with Burns’ soulful pipes alongside Steve Eisen’s bright tenor sax and Greg Rockingham’s playful drums, and “World Of Trouble” follows with Chris Foreman’s playful keys organ that suits Geof Bradfield’s fluid tenor sax.
“Too Much Lovin’” lands in the middle and bops and shakes with an infectious energy thanks to Lee Rothenberg’s frisky guitar and Burns’ adaptable pipes, while “Give Her To Me” benefits from Typhanie Monique’s rich voice amid the melodic landscape.
Arriving near the end, “Rock Me Mama” has Burns playing guitar alongside the crisp rhythm section, cozy guitar and much rhythm, and “Where Does That Leave Me?” exits with a soft mood of timeless song craft.
Influences from Curtis Mayfield and Jimmy McGriff won’t be hard to appreciate here, as Burns and company blend Chicago blue and soul with jazz that sounds as great today as it did in the ‘60s.
Travels well with: Tad Robinson- Soul In Blue; Mud Morganfield- Portrait