Wednesday, March 01, 2017

NEW RELEASES: AL DI MEOLA - MOROCCO FANTASIA; NORMAN BROWN - LET IT GO; SLY & ROBBIE PRESENT TAXI GANG DISCOMIX STYLE 1978-1987

AL DI MEOLA - MOROCCO FANTASIA

Al Di Meola's fantastic appearance in 2009 also represented a summit of different cultures and religions - Al Di Meola (guitar), Peo Alfonsi (2nd guitar), Fausto Beccalossi (accordion), Gumbi Ortiz (percussion), Victor Miranda (bass), Peter Kaszas (drums), and with special guests from Morocco, Said Chraibi (oud), Abdellah Meri (violin) and Tarik Ben Ali (percussion). On his third trip to Morocco, the public gave this exceptional guitarist a rousing reception and showed ist openness towards Western music - and Al Di Meola wowed the audience with a special repertoire. Includes live performances of Misterio; Siberiana; Double Concerto; Michelangelo's 7th Child; Gumbiero; Turquoise; Egyptian Danza (feat. Abdellah Meri, Tari Ben Ali); and Encore (feat. Said Chraibi, Abdellah Meri, Tari Ben Ali).

NORMAN BROWN - LET IT GO

Let It Go, Norman's inspired debut album for Shanachie Records, has something for everyone, whether an R&B fan or a jazz aficionado. From "Holding You," his sensuous collaboration with R&B great Chanté Moore and Norman's re-imagining of the Five Stairsteps classic "Ooh Child"  to the smoothly grooving "Remember Who You Are" and the serenely inspired "Let It Go," Let It Go is Norman Brown at his best. Tracks include: Lessons of the Spirit; It Keeps Coming Back; Let It Go; Ooh Child; Conversations; Living Out Your Destiny; Holding You; The North Star; Very Woman; Liberated; Remember Who You Are; and Man in the Mirror.

SLY & ROBBIE PRESENT TAXI GANG DISCOMIX STYLE 1978-1987

The selections on this compilation demonstrate exactly how much Lowell 'Sly' Dunbar & Robert 'Robbie' Shakespeare have learned from the roots of reggae, American rhythm & blues and soul, and these versions of contemporary and vintage soul songs show Sly and Robbie at their very best on covers of Little Willie John's Fever, Al Wilson's Show & Tell, Tony Joe White's Rainy Night In Georgia (as covered in soul by Brook Benton), The Delfonics' Don't Break Your Promise, The Impressions' You Must Believe Me, The Spinners' Could It Be I'm Falling In Love and a brace of Marvin Gaye covers in Sexual Healing and Inner City Blues. All are sung with panache and feeling by the various vocalists and backed up with superior rhythms, showcased here with full-length versions, from Sly and Robbie. For over forty years they have contributed so much to the body of reggae music that they can truly be seen as its backbone. Without Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespeare it is no exaggeration to say that reggae would not have figured anywhere near as prominently as it has done in popular music; long may they continue... Usually known as simply Sly & Robbie these two master musicians have a variety of names including The Dynamic Duo, The Rhythm Twins and even, on occasion, Drumbar and Basspeare. The role of backing musicians was exactly that... to stay in the background... but Sly & Robbie are the only reggae musicians whose names are internationally known and respected. These architects and builders of Jamaican music have constantly tested the boundaries of what could, and couldn't, be used in reggae but despite working extensively with stars of the international firmament including Joan Armatrading, Joe Cocker, Ian Dury, Bob Dylan, Serge Gainsborough, Gwen Guthrie, Herbie Hancock, Mick Jagger and Grace Jones their roots are firmly planted in Kingston's teeming reggae scene.

 

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