Smokey Hormel: Smokey’s Secret Family

Smokey is a first-rate guitarist who's played with artists like Johnny Cash, Beck, Tom Waits, John Doe and Joe Strummer. This album, described as Congolese dance music (a field I have to admit no previous knowledge of), features groovy instrumentals that sound like Cuban jazz to these ears, with a tangible live-in-a-room feel to the recordings. Engineered by Patrick Dillett (interview soon!), Michael Crehore, Yohei Goto and Smokey. Recorded at Dubway Studios, Brooklyn Recording, Kampo Studios and Spam Factory. (www.smokeyhormel.com) -LC