The Mitchell and Dewberry Band - Beyond the Rains

Jazz Room's Russ Dewbury and DJ and producer Ben Mitchell join forces to bring us Beyond the Rain; an album which fuses jazz, funk and latin with plenty of soul. On board for this recording are vocalists Billie Godfrey and Lizzie Rendall, as well as pianist Mark Edwards, bass player Jeff 'The Funk' Walker, along with an array of other international recording artists. The album's momentum is diminished somewhat by the extra length of a few tracks, breaking up the album instead of bringing it together as a cohesive whole. Well produced and well executed with some fun tunes, but hardly revolutionary - but then, it's not really trying to be. [Natalie Doyle]