Rating:
Genre:
Jazz
Release Date: 10/07/2003
The title of the Swiss-born composer/keyboardist's third
Narada Jazz recording reflects the down-home spirit of his experience for the first time in Atlanta performing in ensemble with some of that city's greatest musicians, as well as an exhilarating shift from the heavy urban sensibilities of his New York-recorded 2001 hit,
Soul Purpose. Getting away from the synthesizer-based sound that formed the foundation of most of his previous recordings,
Bugnon strips down to the piano and Fender Rhodes in fashioning a more organically driven collection. It features some of Atlanta's most renowned musicians, who add their distinctly Dixie
funk vibe to the mix: bassist
Ronnie Garrett, drummers
Sonny Emory and newcomer
Ricardo Jordan, guitarist
Rick Watford, trumpeter
Melvin Miller (on the seductive cool
blues-
funk opening track,
"Lonely Nights"), and vocalist
Tiffany Davis (the moody, mystical romance
"The Most Beautiful Girl in the World").
Garrett co-produced and lends his vocal talents to the wistful, elegant
funk ballad "Missing You Like Crazy." Other key tracks reflecting
Bugnon's magical Southern experience include the bright and lively
retro-soul-driven title track; the laid-back, steamy back-porch swing vibe of
"108 Degrees" (no doubt a winking nod to his 1991 hit recording,
107 Degrees in the Shade); the raw and soulful
"Cascade" (featuring an irresistible thumping groove and handclaps);
"Sweetwater Creek," which blends exotic percussion with a down-home light
funk flavor; and a heavily '70s-colored twist on
Hall & Oates' classic
"Sara Smile," played brilliantly on Fender Rhodes.
~Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
;)
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