Riko Gaultier (aka Mapuka, Faya Dub, Faya Horns...) and Mad Professor have known each other for about ten years. About ten years during which they have dreamed of producing an instrumental album that would give pride of place to horn riffs. This record, like a childhood dream, is now available thanks to the Makasound team. Passionate, always affable and available, Riko Gaultier (saxophone, flute), a sort of tall white Jesus with dreadlocks, is an endearing character who counts on the French-language reggae scene. Last July, he and his accomplice Thomas Henning (trombone) went to the Professor's mythical studios, Ariwa, for two days of intensive recording. Mad Professor and his son Joe Ariwa (22) submitted riddims to them, drawn notably from the albums "Kingdom of dub" and "Dub of Jihad". Some tracks already had horn riffs (most often synthetic) that had to be replayed, while others were dubs stripped bare that had to be dressed with talent and precision.
It is by reading the credits that one can tell the two types of riddim apart, because to the ear everything is homogeneous and coherent. As with the master Rico Rodriguez, undisputed boss of jazz reggae for horn section, the tracks flow smoothly, happily even, the rhythmic phrases of the bass opening the door to the light and solid harmonies of the wind instruments. All recorded live, the riffs show the musical level of the two partners. One will remember in particular the emotion that comes off Raising Dub and God Of Dub. The fiery solos laid down as overdubs (flute, alto sax, trombone) are just as successful, as the improvisations of Dubbing In The Kibutz and Ark of dub testify.
The most notable difference with the 70's roots records of a Rico Rodriguez or a Don Drummond lies more in the instrumentals. Mad Professor is a master of the sturdy riddim where nothing sticks out. The spirit is roots and digital, and power sometimes wins out over charm. It is therefore on loud listening sessions that Faya Horns' project will take on its full dimension, the quality of the mix being able to withstand all the exaggerations in terms of dB.
