2010-03-06
Out of Ottawa, The Souljazz Orchestra has released its third album. Melding Afro-Cuban rhythms with hot musicianship and sometimes odd time signatures, Rising Sun is jazz to be reckoned with. The quiet intro leads to one of the highlights of the disc, "Agbara". The next song, "Negus Nagast" was inspired by label-mate Mulatu Astatke...reason enough to like the song; but the fact that it rocks just adds to the pleasure! The slower "Lotus Flower" has a nice groove and features the muted trumpet of guest, Nicholas Dyson (Gladys Knight and the Pips, The Coasters). The rest of this release gets a little quieter. The best of these quieter pieces is "Serenity", with its flute highlights and with the clarinet helping out on the back-beat. This is nice stuff. Rebecca Ruth
BELINDA UNDERWOOD
- GREENSPACE
THE GODFATHERS OF GROOVE FEATURING REUBEN WILSON, BERNARD “PRETTY” PURDIE, AND GRANT GREEN JR.
The Godfathers of Groove
CLAYTON CAMERON AND THE JAZZ EXPLOSION
Here's To The Messengers: A Tribute to Art Blakey
Katie Melua
Call Off the Search
Dr. John Hair & New Connections
When The Spirit Gets You!
Brian Marsella's Imaginarium
The Clocks Have Gone Mad
The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.