Ubiquity
Here’s how the story goes: Gilles Peterson famed BBC DJ and renowned tastemaker owns a house called Brownswood. Giving a name to a house implies a sense of grandeur and this one is no exception. Its only residents are thousands of records. On 2005’s Digs Vol. 1 Peterson scoured this collection for an eclectic mix of jazz soul and funk cuts. The second instalment traverses the same territory but chooses new paths at every opportunity offering yet another glimpse at the DJ’s ever-growing stacks of wax.
The great thing about the Digs discs is that they are just as accessible to musical neophytes as they are to groove aficionados. Peterson’s decidedly unpretentious outlook values the quality of individual songs above all else — while a lesser DJ might turn a blind eye to an overtly religious hymn like The Bethlehem Progressive Ensemble’s “Make Way (Call to Worship)” this curator embraces the track’s musical adventurousness. As the album moves into its second half Peterson stumbles with the inclusion of D.B. Shrier’s “East” an indulgent free-jazz odyssey that will alienate most casual listeners. Fortunately a young Al Jarreau restores some momentum and Digs Vol. 2 lopes off towards a happy ending.
