Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Toph-E & The Pussycats: No Ordinary Day

Toph-E & The Pussycats: No Ordinary Day

By Woodrow Wilkins
November 27, 2010
View read count

Toph-E & The Pussycats is a contemporary band with old-school ideas. Its repertoire combines jazz, funk and R&B properties. For No Ordinary Day, those elements are augmented by hints of Brazilian and Latin rhythms.

Part of the group's name comes from a variation of drummer Christopher Parker's nickname, "Toph." Collectively, the group's members bring a wealth of experience, including television credits and musical associations with a number of rock, pop, and jazz artists.

Will Lee

bass
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Will Lee and

David Mann

woodwinds

" data-original-title="" title="">David Mann composed "Pussyfoot," with a groove that sets the tone for the remainder of the set. Mann leads on tenor sax, with Lee serving a cool bass line. Clifford Carter contributes a smooth keyboard solo, while Parker and percussionist

Ralph MacDonald

percussion
1944 - 2011

" data-original-title="" title="">Ralph MacDonald maintain a steady rhythm throughout.

Mann also wrote "It Seems to Me," which, at first, seems like an easygoing walk in the park. After a downshifted interlude, Carter solos on piano. Softly underscored by bass and drums, he stretches out, subtly at first but gradually building up. Mann comes in, shifting into high gear at one point. After the song reverts to its laid-back melody, Mann cranks up the intensity during the closing sequence.

Often, a lyrical ballad seems out of place on an otherwise instrumental album, but "Of Everything I Know" is a rare exception. Adapted from "Daquilo Que Eu Sei," composed by Vitor Martins and

Ivan Lins

piano and vocals
b.1945

" data-original-title="" title="">Ivan Lins, this arrangement has English lyrics written by Lee, who also sings. Mann plays the soprano sax, and the soothing blend of instruments and voice give the feeling of a romantic escape to a Brazilian beach.

Another Lee-Mann composition is "BlackHouse," with a soulful groove highlighted by Carter's keyboard solo and emphatic ending. The song is a tribute to the promise of a progressive future, brought on by the 2008 election of Barack Obama as President of the United States.

Listening to Toph-E & The Pussycats, at times is like hearing

Fourplay

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Fourplay with a saxophone and percussion in place of a guitar. However, by not having a guitar, the group has more space for the other instruments, in addition to a more acoustic sound. A major difference, however, is that all but two songs on No Ordinary Day are longer than five minutes, with four tracks topping seven. The band clearly has no concerns about fitting into a radio-friendly format, which gives them the freedom to play on.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Pussyfoot; It Seems to Me; No Ordinary Day; Ostinato; Of Everything I Know (Daquilo Que Eu Sei); Tee; BlackHouse; Un Nuevo Mundo; Opus de Tophe; Tatchedogbe (Touch Wood); Impromptoph; Maiden Voyage.

Personnel

Toph-E & The Pussycats

Clifford Carter: piano, keyboards; Will Lee: bass, vocals; Ralph MacDonald: percussion; David Mann: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Christopher "Toph" Parker: drums.

Album information

Title: No Ordinary Day | Year Released: 2010 | Record Label: M'Bubba Music

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Descending
< Previous

Autumn Falls
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.