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DL MEDIA
FRANCISCO MELA/Cirio-Live at the Blue Note: The Cuban drummer hooks up with some of Blue Notes stars of tomorrow for a New York/Cuban contemporary jazz date that draws on both heritages while looking to the future and proving his auspicious debut was no fluke. Like a modern version of the Cuban music heard in the background in “Godfather II”, this is some solid listening music that connects well and the underlying 50s vibe is handled in a dandy fashion. A fusion of sounds and attitudes at several levels, this is real music for real jazzbos.
4536 (Half Note)
GO MEDIA
SAMBA MEETS BOOGIE WOOGIE: Oh those crafty, musical Adnets! They round up a bunch of pals and label mates and claim this is a set of pre-samba Brazilian jazz based on the original charts of the original recordings of the 30s, 40s and 50s. So, how would the average gringo know this? Based on how well the set turned out, why would the average gringo care? The first thing you take away from this set is the seamless professionalism that you are drawn to because there’s enough juice behind it to make it transcend being a well done performance and move it into that realm where it’s something that connects with you at a visceral level. Often sounding like a great lost Brazil 66 album recorded after hours with the commercial pressure off, this is simply one sweety of an album that has so much on the ball it’s almost scary. First class, must hear adult music that works throughout.
1048 (Adventure Music)
HEADS UP
SPYRO GYRA/A Night Before Christmas: Now don’t go rolling your eyes that another smooth jazz Christmas is rolling down the line. This is what a Charlie Brown Christmas would sound like if Vince Guaraldi played sax instead of piano, and they even do get some Charlie Brown Christmas in here as well. A lot more acoustic than you’ve ever heard this bunch, they deliver a nice holiday romp with help from vocal pals like Janis Siegel and Christine Ebersole. Except for a few ringers, they hit the hoariest of chestnuts but they make it come out right. A nice holiday music addition for those that want extra talismans to keep away the forecasted blues this holiday season.
3145
ON TARGET MEDIA GROUP
JEFF LORBER/Heard That: The old fusion dog is learning some new tricks 30 years in as he rounds up a load of contemporaries but also corrals Rex Rideout to keep things looking forward rather than have this be a redux of a 1991 Rolodex round up. Atmospheric adult music that has the bizjazz thing down cold, it’s exactly what an adult wants to hear when getting into the car after another lousy day at work or to divert them from hated chores like hitting the treadmill and wanting some distance from the young people music pounding through the health club speakers. Hey grown ups, here’s a confection that tastes good and won’t wreck your veneers. Check it out.
30724 (Peak)
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS
SOL Y CANTO/Cada Dia un Regalo: Do gooders channel their hopes and dreams into music and come up with a tasty set that fuses their optimism with some smart music. A veritable sonic travelogue of Latin music that invigorates and gives the soul that little something extra. A fine work from a veteran outfit that has been flying under the radar and deserves to soar like their dreams.
1008 (Music Amador)
SIX DEGREES
ZUCO 103/After the Carnaval: In which we learn the important distinction between electro samba and techno samba. Zuco checks in with a first class contemporary samba flavored date for Latin oriented club goers giving up solid techno renditions for the dance floor and smart electro renditions for when it’s time to reach for some sophistication. Perhaps too uneven for the average gringo listening taste, Zuco knows his stuff and knows his audience catering to them quite appropriately.
1154
Volume 31/Number 332
September 27, 2008
MIDWEST RECORD
830 W. Route 22 #144
Lake Zurich, IL., 60047
CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher
©2008 Midwest Record
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