CD reviews - March 09, 2011

Published Mar 9, 2011

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Eden brent - ain’t got no troubles (gallo)

Brent’s rollicking Let’s Boogie-woogie distills the influence of mentor Abie “Boogaloo” Ames. Typical blues turnarounds meld perfectly with her smokey tones, and the Blues Music Award Winner comes across as simultaneously tough and playful. Emotive nuances elevate her mature usage of the genre, yet she’s careful never to overplay the basics. Goodnight Moon makes a welcome break from the Delta chord foundation, and understated honky-tonk at times gives shape to her original arrangements. Skilled, rhythmical and melodic – this pianist/vocalist is the real deal.

Bossa Nova - Putumayo Presents (Putumayo)

An easy listening 12 track compilation in the Putumayo series, which

obeys all the rules of the typical bossa format. Standout themed selections include South Korean keyboardist Monia’s sultry Railroad insert from her A Dreaming Kid debut.

Cape Verde singer Nancy Viera’s Esperanza de Mar Azul carries a tantalizing guest snippet of potent Tito Paris. And Brazilian Bia’s Jardim, which was made famous by French star Henri Salvador who helped popularise the bossa nova in the Francophone world, aptly sums up the genre.

Fourplay - Let’s Touch The Sky (Sheer)

Well, there’s no faulting this contemporary foursome for consistancy. Here they add yet another ultra-smooth fusion album to their already overflowing pile of super-smooth predecessors. They’ve mastered the art of gentlemanly, courteous, cautious jazz, and again there are simply no surprises.

Guitarist Chuck Loeb is the latest addition to the bandstand and his six string adds nice acoustic colour to More Than a Dream, but generally upholds the mainstream R&B smooth jazz idiom.

Featured guests include Anita Baker and Rueben Studdard.

2011 grammy nominees - (sony music)

Popular anthems by the latest stabble of ‘happening’ radio-friendly stars. There’s an upbeat vibe with the likes of runner-up American Idol Adam Lambert magically rocking out with Whataya Want From Me. Country tinges come from Lady Antebellum, and Paramore and Maroon 5 up their rock visibility. This year’s nominees, of course, included the epic duet by Eminem and Rihanna on Love the Way You Lie, John Mayer’s Half of My Heart and Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce on Telephone.

Just a pity about the particular Michael Buble choice.

Rokoff 2 - (David Gresham Records)

In the wake of new heroes like Jack Parow, Fokofpoliesiekar and Die Antwoord, the Afrikaans rock market is growing by leaps and bounds with young pop acts springing out of garages across the ‘binneland’.

New voices finding their mojo here include Dans Dans Lisa, Straatligkinders and Glaskas. These Rokoff 2 musos aren’t maybe as well known as their predecessors, but are helping shape the new wave of Afrikaans pop. The lightweight bandstand includes Van Diens Af, Moses Metro Man, Winterstasie and Die Tuin Dwergies.

RJ Benjamin - house Bound (Soul Candi)

Bejamin’s in the house!

With hit making producers like Dr. Duda, Nutty Nys, 37MPH, Craig Massive and Ryan Dent by his side, the theme here is clubby with a big ‘C’. While House Bound works thematically, the beat-driven quest to burn down the house often sets Benjamin’s voice way too far back in the mix.

The overreliance on an old-school electro syth sound seems dated to me, but will no doubt serve as adequate floor fillers. Into the Stars, featuring Dr Duda is sure to please clubgoers. The guestlist also includes Danny K and Slikour.

Third Day - Move (Provident Label)

A great studio album helped along by producer Paul Moak. It’s a rock-solid gospel release with devotional lyrics steering some of the best tracks, Children Of God, Surrender and Follow Me There.

It’s a tight package with a feel-good rock vibe – and the cherry on top is Mac Powell's instantly likeable vocals, which completely suit the genre. The songwriting is middle-of-the-road straightforward and accessible, but there’s a fullness and sense of completion that makes this a good contribution to the popular Christian music scene.

Elton John /Leon Russell - The Union (Universal)

I know Elton is a Sir and all, but boy, this is a boring album. Produced by T Bone Burnett, it’s a long-outstanding meeting of sorts with Elton and one of his great 1960’s 1970’s musical inspirations – writer, pianist and arranger Leon Russell.

Recorded live in the studio, the veterans make a faultless album, but it falls flat with too many mid-tempo ballads flattened out by formulaic melodies.

The Union is both sincere and complementary, but too ‘nowhere- retro’ by today’s standards. The problem is probably because Elton co-wrote most of the songs.

Marcus Miller - A Night in Monte Carlo (Jassics)

Miller’s all fingers and thumbs in a bouncy, funky, open string Middle Eastern desert vista dubbed Blast! The Caravans motif soon morphs into more obvious territory though, with the bass-driven So What, Amandla and Strange Fruit. Roy Hargrove’s presence can always be felt, but the joy here is also the backdrop created by L’Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo. It’s something of a crossover set, so might not suit discerning jazz tastes. Fretless fans can fast forward to Miller’s arrangement of the Gershwin classic, I LovesYou Porgy.

Clubbers Guide 2011 - (Just Music)

Wall to wall electro mixes and remixes all designed to keep you gravitating back to the dancefloor.

Lose yourself anywhere within a 60 track, three disc continuum.

The playlist includes Chicane, Flash Republic, Roger Sanchez & Far East Movement and The Rah Band. Then there’s Funkerman featuring Left, Ruffloaderz & Cut Up Boys, Stretch & Vern and Bob Sinclair featuring Ben Onono.

After brief intros, most songs unfurl with full pumping beat counts – all poised to hike up the pleasure factor. Strictly for dedicated beat mad clubbers only.

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