2008-12-17
Something Else! by Pico - Review
The songs nicely walk the line between Afro-Cuban jazz and r&b without diluting either. "New Nation," for instance, has a Grover Washington groove, only more organic. "Bodhisattva (Wonderful Sound)" is not the Steely Dan song, but rather, a funky moda
Something Else! Review
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Quickies: Bujo Kevin Jones & Tenth World, Neil Young, Gilfema
by Pico
We're getting to the end of the year and it feels as though there's still too many 2008 CD's to sift through and evaluate. I'm not ready for 2009 yet! Before launching into the ol' year-end "best of 2008" lists, let's quickly run through a couple of fresh jazz records by some fresh faces, and a new release of an old recording by a rock icon:
Bujo Kevin Jones & Tenth World Live!
"Bujo" Kevin Jones is from Englewood, New Jersey, but his percussion playing hails from the Congo, Cuba, and other parts of the world. Mixed in with a heavy jazz sensibility, Bujo's festive music calls to mind the pulsing, Latin grooves of Pancho Sanchez.
It's the kind of music best appreciated live, and that's just what Jones does for his second release with his Tenth World band, called...drum roll...Live! With a piano player (Kelvin Sholar), a sax (Brian Horton), trumpet (Kevin Louis), electric bass (Joshua David) and drummer (Jaimo Brown) added to his percussion, Jones has his ensemble sized just right for a full sound that's still nimble.
The songs nicely walk the line between Afro-Cuban jazz and r&b without diluting either. "New Nation," for instance, has a Grover Washington groove, only more organic. "Bodhisattva (Wonderful Sound)" is not the Steely Dan song, but rather, a funky modal jazz piece powered by Jones' and Brown's driving Africa rhythms. The Havana-derived "Tu Boca" contains some nifty improvising work by its composer Sholar. Horton's "Beautyful" is a mellow, mid-tempo chillout tune that has Miles Davis quotes from "Jean Pierre" and "It's About That Time" for those paying attention. The one cover thrown is saved for last, a rendition of "Afro Blue" that stays true to its Afro-Cuban roots.
You'll hear some nice, individual soloing here and there, but the main draw is the ensemble playing. It's a tight, kinetic band that does a great job melding the busy beats to the dynamic horns. That's good enough reason to listen to Bujo Kevin Jones' latest CD, courtesy of Motema Music, more than just a few times. Live! came out on November 11.
http://www.somethingelsereviews.com/2008/12/quickies-bujo-kevin-jones-tenth-world.html
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