Ronald Langestraat - Searching, Vinyl LP

A private press / home recorded, leftfield jazz fusion gem from 1984. ‘Space Jazz’, as Langestraat called it, but not the likes which you might expect to be Sun Ra-esque; rather a sound derived from soul and Latin influences, with synths, early drum machines and tape distortion creating atmospheres more akin to 60’s lounge/ exotica.

It’s an outsider record, not from the perspective of a lack formal training, rather from Langstraat’s approach. He was a respected jazz musician in his collaborative projects, but his solo material was rejected by his peers and fans. His response was to venture inward, reject the snobbish high-brow jazz world, record himself at home and self-release (“You Need To Cry” is a direct response to said criticism).

There’s an inherent sadness in these songs; a deep longing, that I can’t help but draw comparisons to Joe Tossini, somewhat stylistically, but absolutely in its unwavering open-heartedness.

Aside from the sentiment, the album has plenty of upbeat moments too, (‘In the Middle of the Night’, ‘I’m Ready For Dancing’ etc.) making for a diverse, but succinct offering.

This might appeal to fans of Joe Tossini as much as fans of John Carroll Kirby or Stereolab. - Jon