Listening Notes... December 2012

THE SOUL OF JAZZ WITH JAMAL AHMAD

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Over the weekend I listened to the first hour of this week's "Soul of Jazz" show.  Host Jamal Ahmad started the hour by saying he would be "...blurring the lines between soul and jazz music, with a distinct global twist." I wanted to hear how he executed it.

 

• The hour begins with a 1977 tune by New Band "Free Your Mind",  which made me think of the band Chicago, Joe Bataan (look him up - Spanish Harlem 1960's & 70's) and Santana all rolled into one.

• The next tune begins with a little Latin beat, Brazilian-esque vocals, and a Roy Ayers-like xylophone... then guitar-accompanied scatting that reminded me of George Benson. The piece was actually  "A Day in Nice (France)" by Enrico Scott

• Next there's a Donnie Hathaway-like soulful tune over Latin-type rhythms. But the lyrics are really socially conscious, talking about today's financial and health difficulties.  The tune is "Reach Ya" by Grammy-nominated vocalist Anthony David out of Atlanta.

• Following were some really danceable Latin-based rhythms, and a vocal group scatting with the kind of sweetness that you might hear on a 1970's Earth, Wind & Fire tune. It turns out the group is from Sweden! Abas Electrica, with their tune "Nuclear Urbano".

• After the break, we segue into the throaty Brazilian vocalist, composer ane keyboard artist Tania Maria with "Come with Me", one of her first hits from the 1980's.

• It's followed by some mellow instrumentals with a subdued wha-wha guitar, fronting an orchestra that made me immediately think of "Shaft" (Can you dig it?). Turns out it was! Well, it was Isaac Hayes from his 1975 recording "Life's Mood".

• Next tune starts with angelic female vocalists singing in harmony, and a lead singer with   lyrics and phrasing that has a Jill Scott feel.  The tune was "The Things We Do for Love" by artist L.A. Mitchell out of Paris, France.

• The hour wraps up with the Visionaires band from London, Grammy award-winning singer and trombonist Saunders Sermons, the group Legamas from Vienna, Austria, Gregory Porter -- the jazz vocalist of his generation,  and the New Engineers band out of Poland.  Wow!  Jamal pulled it off!

   Tania Maria                         Isaac Hayes                          L.A. Mitchell                        Gregory Porter

 

 

A lot of the music heard on The Soul of Jazz is not easy to get in the U.S.; apparently the host has some great inroads into music markets abroad!   I'll have to listen to the show.  The good news is, so will listeners.

 

If you'd like to do something cutting edge on your station that entertains, maintains your station's cultural and life-long learning values - and  probably attracts a younger, sophisticated audience - check this show out.   

Loretta Rucker

  

 

 

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