Most remixes leave us cold. But not when Makaya McCraven's about. Getting the funky McCraven treatment is Eddie Gale's 'Black Rhythm Happening' and while certainly less rugged or charged with the period energy of the late-1960s it works well on a skippy, clubby, jazz lounge basis which is what it's supposed to given the whole thing comes over as social music. Back in the summer we also enjoyed the flute and guitar-flavoured groove on 'Frank's Tune' (aka 'De’Jeff’s Tune') another pre-release single from Deciphering the Message. The Chicago drummer and producer's remix album digs deep into the greatest treasures of recorded jazz, in other words, the Blue Note vaults, with among others his take on such classics as 'A Slice Of The Top' from the Hank Mobley album of the same name, 'Sunset' from Kenny Dorham album Whistle Stop, 'When Your Lover Has Gone' from Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers album A Night in Tunisia and 'Wail Bait' from The Memorial Album by Clifford Brown. Eddie Gale, the erstwhile Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor trumpeter, died in July last year aged 78. In the early-1960s Gale got to know Sun Ra and he toured and recorded with Ra’s Arkestra throughout the 60s and 70s. And again staying with the avant-garde he appeared on the classic Cecil Taylor album Unit Structures. His own albums included Ghetto Music in 1968 and Black Rhythm Happening, the title track which gets the McCraven treatment here the following year. Deciphering The Message is out on 19 November. Makaya McCraven photo: Blue Note