AMG Review of Platinum Jazz

Ron Wynn
All Music Guide

War became a superstar funk unit in the '70s by seamlessly fusing several elements: R&B vocals, Afro-Latin rhythms, rock theatrics, and even occasional jazz strains. This 12-track reissue presents instrumentals featured on War albums, songs that were generally longer than their hit singles and didn't get much attention in original issue. They show that while the band members weren't great soloists, they had an energy and improvisational elan that kept their extended jams from dragging.