Pure gold – ultrafunky Soul Jazz rare grooves from start to finish. On this 1972 Prestige recording, Melvin Sparks from Houston, TX, clearly upgrades not only Kool and the Gang funk hits of the time with his rich guitar sound, showing that jazz and funk are not only related, but inseparable.

Especially the original compositions are worth listening to on this record: On the up, All wrapped up and, of course, the mega-sounding title track Akilah! show the compositional talent of Mr. Sparks, a good sense for the balance of tunes, rhythm and timbres – all in the fruitful territories where jazz, soul and funk meet.

And with this backing band, nothing can go wrong – almost a rare groove supergroup, with the sensational groove department of Idris Muhammad on drums, Bobby Caldwell on congas, Leon Spencer on organ. For me one of the most coherent and coolest Rare Groove recordings, always superb to listen to.

Stefan Mohr