Charlie Apicella & Iron City
Sparks
Carlo Music Records
www.MySpace.com/IronCityFunk
By George W. Harris

Guitarist Charlie Apicella has created a band that draws its inspiration from the Grant Green school of groove, hence the band being named after one of the legend's more iconic tunes. Apicella's got a great sound, and burns on all 8 cylinders with this funky band that includes Dave Mattock/B3 and Alan Korzin/dr. Bringing Lockjaw-toned tenorist Stephen Riley into the fold, the band smokes through Steve Cropper's "Sookie, Sookie" and Green's own "Blues In Maude's Flat." Violinists John Blake Jr. and Amy Batemen add some charm to a couple of tracks, but the emphasis here is getting down to business, and they get down and dirty on Lou Donaldson's "Caracas" and the surprisingly satisfying trio take of Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" which makes you wonder why no one's done a jazz take of this song before. Always a good sign of a creative band. Get the disc and get your toe tapping shoes on.