Clifford Gilberto Rhythm Combination I was Young And I Needed The Money Ninja Tune 10/98 [ZEN 37/ZEN CD37] Sometimes I wish Ninja Tune would release a complete turd of an album. It gets tiring finding different ways of saying how great the latest Ninja release is. How I'd love to tear one of their babies apart, constructively criticize it, and point out the error of their ways. Looks like it ain't gonna happen, though. Gilberto was bitten by the jazz monster at a young age, was trotted around Germany and the States by his parents, and then tried to get all the torment out of his system by starting up a string of bands. "I Was Young…" comes off sounding like a jazz band on speed, moving from Mingus and Monk to Hancock-style fusion. It's greatest attributes are that it sounds real (not stiff and computerized), has a nudge-nudge-wink-wink type of smirk to it, and works as a cohesive package-a sparkling album, not just a bunch of songs. Yet another gem. (Damn!)--Andrew Duke Back to album reviews index