JOHN LEGEND - LOVE IN THE FUTURE
Singer, songwriter, and producer John Legend is back and this time has definately taken a step forward on a record that should have that amazing voice
reaching even more ears than ever before! By that, we don't necessarily mean
that the set's commercial, just put together with a mode that goes way beyond
conventional soul – still deep at the core, but richly expressive past barriers
of age and style that few other pop artists could push this successfully! From start to finish the album displays a stripped-down urgency that melds perfectly with Legend's delivery. Titles include "Who Do We Think We Are", "The Beginning",
"Save The Night", "Tomorrow", "Hold On Longer",
"All Of Me", "You & I", "Caught Up", and
"Dreams". The standard version of the album features 16 tracks and the deluxe version includes 4 bonus tracks.
EDDIE GALE - BLACK RHYTHM HAPPENING
One of
the most righteous albums of jazz ever recorded – a brilliant blend of soulful
and avant garde styles, backed up by a chorus of voices that have a really
soulful sound! The album's the second recorded for Blue Note by the Ghetto
Music ensemble of trumpeter Eddie Gale – a lesser-known talent who recorded
previously with Cecil Taylor, but who made a turn away from modernism at the
end of the 60s, in order to express himself at a level that he felt was more
clearly grounded in the people. The result of that effort is sheer brilliance –
an album that sounds like nothing else you can imagine. Part of the style shares
the energy of similar vocal/jazz projects by Max Roach and Billy Harper, but
Gale's conception of the music is much more dynamic, and very carefully rooted
in song structures – with a sound that's as powerful today as it was when it
was recorded! Titles include "Ghetto Love Night", "Song Of
Will", "Ghetto Summertime", "Black Rhythm Happening",
and "Look At Teyonda". ~ Dusty Groove
CALDERA - CALDERA / SKY ISLANDS
A pair
of killers from this jazzy Latin combo of the 70s! First up is the self-title
Caldera album – a jazzy Latin fusion classic – and the first album by the
border-crossing combo! The group features both North and South American players
– coming together in a hard-riffing approach to fusion that rivals the best
fusion combos of both the California and Brazilian scenes at the time. There's
a few nice moments that really belie their more southern roots – and recall the
choppy fusion of Airto, or the vocal scatting of Flora – but the set's also got
a sunny west coast finish, thanks to some wonderful production from Wayne
Henderson – who kicks things up in a way that the group hardly matched on later
albums! Guest stars include Raul De Souza and Roberto Da Silva – and titles
include the funk classic "Coastin", plus "Guanacaste",
"Out Of The Blue", "El Juguete", and "Synesthesia".
Nest is Sky Islands – a set that's recorded with a smooth soulful style that's
right up there with the best of the Capitol Rare generation! Caldera mixes
together nice jazzy saxes with guitars, percussion, and some great keyboard
work by Eduardo Del Barrio – all produced by the group with a sweet arching
style that's very much in the Brazilian fusion style of the time – a wonderful
blend that also gets a dose of California warmth, which is just the right
element to send the whole thing home nicely! Tracks include the classic
"Sky Islands", plus "Pegasus", "Carnavalito",
"Triste", and "Ancient Source". ~ Dusty Groove
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