OSARU – STEPPING UP
The Musical MD takes another quick break from caring for his
patients, to release a brand new smooth jazz album titled 'Stepping up'. This
is a 10-song collection of original tracks written, produced and performed by
the artist. It features smooth, melodic tenor and soprano sax phrasing,
sprinkled with subtle keyboard and vocal syncopation on a background of punchy,
laid-back grooves. Osaru describes the new album as 'smooth jazz with
attitude.' Once again, Osaru combines his skills on the keyboards, saxophone
and wind controller with his song writing and production skills. The end
product is a high energy, positively charged,
groove swathed Album. From the mid-tempo funk of 'The Music Train' to
the slow dance of 'Remember', you will find yourself tapping your foot and
bobbing your head as each groove unfolds. By the time 'What A Great Day!' comes
on, you can truly feel the optimism in the album. The album closes on a high
note with the aptly titled song, 'Let's Go', which is an all out jam with tenor
sax, soprano sax, electric guitar and piano all accounted for in this splendid
conclusion to the album. You can't help
but wonder...What's next?
WOLFGANG MUTHSPIEL – RISING GRACE
One of the most beautiful albums we've ever heard from
guitarist Wolfgang Muthspiel – a set that opens up in so many tones and colors,
thanks to help from a great group that features Ambrose Akimusire on trumpet
and Brad Mehldau on piano! Both of these musicians really help underscore the
more human side of Muthspiel's music – which is still very much in the
soundshaping mode of some of his other releases, but has a very organic flow
and sense of warmth that we really appreciate. The group also features Larry
Grenadier on bass and Brian Blade on drums – and overall, the sound is still
very ECM-ish, but quite warm and personal. ~ Dusty Groove
SHABANKA & THE ELDERS – WISDOM OF THE ANCESTORS
A fantastic jazz group from the contemporary South African
scene – one who've got a very righteous vibe, and a sound that's maybe even
more far-reaching than any jazz we've heard from that scene back in the 60s or
70s! The group's led by Shabaka Hutchings on tenor, but is a very collaborative
ensemble – with these tremendous upfront vocals from Siyabonga Mthembu, a
singer with a very unique approach, and a spiritual current that we'd rank
right up there with work by Leon Thomas, Dwight Trible, or Joe Lee Wilson, even
though Mthembu's very much his own man. The group's also got two other great
horn players – Mthunzi Mvubu on alto and Mandla Mlangeni on trumpet – plus
Fender Rhodes and piano from Nduduzo Makhathini, and a wonderfully early array
of bass, percussion, and drums – which lay down a fantastic groundwork for each
tune. The music starts somewhere in the spiritual territory of the
post-Coltrane scene – but really takes off immediately with its own individual
spirit – ala Kamasai Washington – and the performance is live and unadorned,
without some of the studio efforts that show up on other Brownswood label
releases. Beautiful work throughout – an instant classic that we'd rank right
up there with the best material by folks like Nat Birchall or Matthew Hallsall,
but very different too. Titles include "Nguni",
"Mzwandile", "Joyous", "The Sea", "The
Observer", and "Give Thanks".
~ Dusty Groove
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