The Soulful Strings set out to prove that strings can swing, and here they certainly do. This work, influenced by
Mancini and
Martin Denny, expands the territory with an eclectic mix of originals and covers.
Richard Evans' fresh arrangements hold the listeners' interest. "Burning Spear," written by
Evans, has a tribal feel and a piercing flute which leads into a stellar, albeit truncated, version of
Miles Davis' "All Blues."
George Harrison's "Within You Without You," featuring
Ron Steele on sitar, is the strangest yet most interesting track on the album. Some of the Soulful Strings'
Groovin' sounds a bit banal and kitschy, but it's a lot of fun. ~ Ryan Randall Goble