Thursday, April 05, 2018

NEW RELEASES: LISA STANFIELD – DEEPER; CORTEX – AVANT-GARDE PARTY MUSIC; RENEE ROSNES – BELOVED OF THE SKY


LISA STANFIELD – DEEPER

It may be years since Lisa Stansfield last topped the charts – but the singer's lost none of her charm, and is still completely at the top of her game – as you'll discover in this wonderfully grooving set! At some level, it's as if nothing has changed at all – the rhythms are strong, the songs upbeat, and Stansfield's vocals have that surprisingly soulful quality that's always made us love her classic records! But there's also a depth here that comes with maturity and growth – and in some ways, Lisa's developed here a lot like Corinne Drewery has over the course of the later albums by Swing Out Sister – even more of a fully-fleshed soul singer, and well-deserving of classic status. Titles include "Desire", "Twisted", "Everything", "Hole In My Heart", "Deeper", "Butterflies", "Love Of My Life", "Billionaire", "Hercules", and "Never Ever" – plus a great remake of The Chimes' classic "Ghetto Heaven".  ~ Dusty Groove

CORTEX – AVANT-GARDE PARTY MUSIC

The title might be a bit goofy, but it's actually a pretty great way to sum up the spirit of this group – as the contemporary Cortex come from avant roots, but also have a vibrancy that makes their music sound more celebratory than confrontational! The quartet features endlessly creative rhythms from the duo of Olya Hoyer on bass and Gard Nilssen on drums – topped by beautiful interplay between the trumpet of Thomas Johansson and saxophonist Kristoffer Berre Alberts – both players who can sometimes be completely in step with each other, sometimes almost at odds, and individually really work to make the whole record soar when it's time for their solos. Titles include "Mac Davis", "Grinder", "Chaos", "Waltz", "Disturbance", "Obverse/Reverse", and "Off Course". ~ Dusty Groove

RENEE ROSNES – BELOVED OF THE SKY

Pianist Renee Rosnes blows us away once again – returning to work with in a very similar mode as the one she used on her last album for the Smoke Sessions label – which was a real revelation, and a set that had us falling in love with Renee's music all over again! If anything, the energy here is even sharper and more focused – as Rosnes' piano comes on full force amidst the vibes of Steve Nelson, and alto and flute of Chris Potter – driven on by fantastic work from Peter Washington on bass and Lewis Nash on drums – a rhythm duo who can be laidback when needed, then completely bold at all the right moments! Nelson's got some sharply chromatic elements in his vibes that offset some of the darker tones from Potter's saxophone – and Renee somehow finds a way to bridge the space of everyone with the warm of the chords on her piano. The songs are almost all originals, and are as painterly as the cover – yet still quite swinging too – and titles include "Elephant Dust", "Scorned As Timber Beloved Of The Sky", "Mirror Image", "Black Holes", "Let The Wild Rumpus Start", and "Rhythm Of The River" – plus a version of Bobby Hutcherson's "Rosie". ~ Dusty Groove

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