Wave Motion

by Martin WoodsideFat Jon the Ample Soul Physician has a resumé that's as long, and ample, as his name. The Cincinnati DJ/producer is the main force behind the formidable Five Deez and he's manned the boards for such luminaries as Talib Kweli, J-Live, Lone Catalysts, and Black Star. Fat Jon's full-length solo debut, Wave Motion, is a mellow, moody instrumental collection comprised of sleepy soul and down-tempo funk. Flush with horns, strings, and keyboards, Fat Jon has worked this material over with a deft, deliberate touch. The beats are crisp but light, and the vibe is extremely laid-back. Wave Motion is a subtle and incredibly finely crafted album, but the first listen can be deceiving. One of the album's most notable qualities is how slowly it reveals itself with each listen; the heavy jazz inflections that seemed like pleasant background music at first grow warmer and resonate longer on the second listen, and then more so on the third. The more you play it, the more sophisticated and satisfying it gets.