Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 12/02/2003
Since their debut in 1997,
Wax Poetic have been mentioned numerous times as the "
hip-hop" or "
downtempo electronica" band where superstar vocalist
Norah Jones got her start. She returns for two cuts on their sophomore effort, and they do still have elements of
hip-hop and
electronica, but my have they grown. Leader/saxophonist/all-around-visionary
Ilhan Ersahin has shaped a loose collection of sidemen and a revolving door full of guests into a smart, adaptable unit of players who act as a modern day version of
Motown's
Funk Brothers or
Lee "Scratch" Perry's
Upsetters. The band benefits from their breeding at
Ersahin's Manhattan club
Nublu, a club/performance space that has Brazilian parties one night and a broken beat DJ the next.
Nublu Sessions comes off as a weeks' pass to the club with
reggae,
house,
jazz,
samba, and just about everything else that is cosmopolitan, mixing together with
Ersahin and
Wax Poetic's vision and spirit holding it all together.
Norah Jones' high profile appearances are more humble than expected and should cushion the blow for
jazz-heads if her next album is full of atmospheric
pop. Gruff
reggae man
U-Roy sounds as effervescent as ever, and
N'Dea Davenport's turn gives the album a sparkling
disco detour.
Saul Williams' kinetic narrative commands his track as expected, but his message serves to break up an otherwise enigmatic album. Slow
electro-click and smooth
house numbers show up towards the end, and they're just as captivating and moody as the organic tracks. The Hollywood
soundtrack gloss throughout the album may put off the underground snobs, but
Wax Poetic understand both the sleek and the deep, and are smart far beyond their merely clever name. One listen to the warm and smooth, refined yet exciting
Nublu Sessions and you'll wonder how you ever slinked across the loft without it.
~David Jeffries, All Music Guide
Listen
