Like it’s predecessor, Ron Trent’s new album, Lift Off, is a sublime set of super polished, programmed jazz funk. Once again, it draws inspiration from the 1980s – Ron once told me that Michael Mann’s Miami Vice was a stylistic touchstone – and demonstrates Trent’s talent for sophisticated syncopation and lush instrumentation. 

While everything on offer is aimed at the dance floor, the rhythms represent a warm breeze, rather than peak time banging. Reference points being a list of Loft-friendly favourites, such as Atmosfear’s Dancing In Outer Space, Ingram’s Mi Sabrina Tequana and Wille Colon’s seductive Set Fire To Me.  The robotic R&B of Juice calls to mind Mtume. 

Lithe Latin percussion pays tribute to Wally Baradou on a couple of tracks. Hot Ice is surely an homage to Wally’s Novela Das Nove, while Street Wave is a cool, whistle-blowing carnival that showcases Lars Bartkuhn’s damn fine, guest fretwork shredding. 

With an academic background in architecture, Trent now chooses to repurpose those skills to shape sonic soundscapes for folks to escape into. However the album does contain some “proper” songs. Most notably Let Me See You Shining, which is more mirrorball-ed, disco, boogie and led by handclaps and the legendary Leroy Burgess. Trent himself whispers the words to Just Another Love Song. 

Highlights include Woman Of Color and Her. The former is a chugging, mid-tempo 11 and a half minute movement that slowly builds from sighing synths, percussion, B-line and keys. Hypnotic and groovy, it introduces a Hammond B3, which is set free, allowed to solo, before being switched for piano. Replacing the funk with something more introspective and peaceful. The latter is a collaboration with veteran Chicago vocalist, Harry Dennis. The iconic voice of Jungle Wonz and The It turning his famous prose poetry toward imagined, idealised, fantasised, far away female beauty, accompanied by an epic of drum circle dynamics, ethereal exclamations and soaring fusion – via Detroit techno – flavoured flights.

Ron Trent’s Lift Off can be ordered directly from Rush Hour.