One of pop music's best-kept secrets is the ongoing party being thrown by prolific producer-composer August Darnell, a founding member of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band. Over the last two years, the Darnell touch has gilded albums by Gichy Dan's Beechwood #9, Machine ("There but for the Grace of God Go I"), James White and the Blacks, Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band ("Deputy of Love"), Cristina, and Kid Creole and the Coconuts, as well as Dr. Buzzard. Along the way, Darnell has invented a new sound: a sophisticated, sidewalk jungle-jangle of Latin rhythms, pop harmonies, disco energy, black street talk, big-band swing, Caribbean lilt and Hollywood glamour. This dense, intelligent, irresistibly ebullient sound has revolutionized contemporary dance music.

Playing one Darnell-directed record after another is like swirling from room to room during a fabulous soiree at which the Original Savannah Band is the life of the party. These folk are the hip, theatrical typethe kind who take over the living room with their witty talk, complicated personalities, in-jokes and lovers' quarrels. Dr. Buzzard which features Darnell (who writes all the lyrics) on bass, guitarist-composer-coproducer Stony Browder Jr., drummer Mickey Sevilla, ...

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