Jazzanova - Of All The Things

Styles: Pop/Rock
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:42
Size: 118,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:00)  1. Look What You're Doin' To Me
(6:25)  2. Let Me Show Ya
(3:29)  3. I Can See
(4:29)  4. Lie
(6:04)  5. Little Bird
(4:42)  6. Rockin' You Eternally
(4:11)  7. So Far From Home
(4:45)  8. What DoYou Want?
(3:32)  9. Lucky Girl
(2:38) 10. Gafiera
(4:08) 11. Morning Scapes
(4:13) 12. Dial A Cliche

Could it be? Is it really possible that one of the most innovative collectives in modern music could stoop to making a throwback soul record? (Perhaps they should have recruited Joss Stone as a guest vocalist.) Sarcasm aside, it's obvious that a soul record from a group like Jazzanova is quite a different proposition from the usual retro rot. So confident in their middle age that they feel no need to innovate (at least, purely for its own sake), the Berliner sextet ends up delivering one of the best soul albums of the era (or any other). True, the influences may be easy to spot Philly soul here, Motown there, plenty of '70s progressive jazz with taut strings or breezy woodwinds but with arrangements as accomplished as these are, and productions that crackle as gloriously as these do, the group can rest comfortably with their theft, genius as it is. Each track has a vocal feature, which might disappoint a few dance fans, but as with the first Jazzanova production LP (In Between), listeners won't spend long wishing they could hear instrumentals of these songs. The caressing vocalist Paul Randolph is responsible for a large share of the highlights, while Jazzanova must be proudest for snaring the smooth soul maverick Leon Ware to appear on a cover of his own "Rockin' You Eternally," with backing vocals from fellow Detroiter Dwele. 

(Still, Phonte from Little Brother is responsible for the record's greatest feat delivering a fine soul vocal on the opener "Look What You're Doin' to Me," then rapping just as well for "So Far from Home.") It's to be expected that Jazzanova would turn in excellent productions with every track, but what's most impressive about Of All the Things is the work that Jazzanova haven't made their forté in the past songwriting, arrangements, and the pairing of each vocalist with a song that works perfectly for them. (Credit for much of the songwriting and arranging for horn or strings goes to Stefan Leisering.) Whereas in the past, Jazzanova's preeminence was obvious on the surface, Of All the Things displays their subtle powers for music-making. ~ John Bush  http://www.allmusic.com/album/of-all-the-things-mw0000800609

Personnel: José James, Bembe Segue (vocals); Kalle Kalima (guitar, acoustic guitar); Volodymyr Korobov, Ralf Zettl, Kim Hyun Jung, Alexandra Shipilo, David Canisius, Sandor Farkas (violin); Astrid Hengst, Dieter Vogt, Verena Wehling, Benker Steiner, Matthias, Peter Bock (viola); Dirk Steglich (flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Magnus Lindgren (flute); Frank Fritsch (saxophone); Skip Reinhart (trumpet); Stephanie Böhm (trombone); Roberto Jose Bertrami (Fender Rhodes piano); Paul Kleber (acoustic bass); Alex Malheiros (electric bass); Ivan Conti (drums, percussion); Wilson Michael (background vocals).

Of All The Things

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Jazzanova - Funkhouse Studio Sessions

Styles: Pop/Rock
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:35
Size: 176,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:12)  1. Let Me Show Ya
(4:30)  2. Theme From Belle Et Fou
(5:05)  3. I Human
(3:38)  4. Look What You're Doin' To Me
(4:39)  5. Lucky Girl
(5:00)  6. No Use
(2:48)  7. No Use, Pt. 2
(6:47)  8. Flashback
(6:17)  9. Believer
(6:38) 10. Little Bird
(5:26) 11. I Can See
(6:23) 12. Boom Clicky Boom Klack
(6:54) 13. Fedime's Flight
(6:10) 14. Let It Go

Berlin's Jazzanova collective have been actively building on their pioneering nu-jazz brand for nearly two decades. They've pursued it as a production team and with their Sonar Kollectiv label as well. In recent years, they've formed a live group for the purpose of touring. Funkhaus Studio Sessions showcases their road band a septet in a studio collaboration with Detroit vocalist Paul Randolph (aka Randolph of Lonely Eden fame). The program is a fine mix of redone classic tunes such as "The Fedime's Flight," and more recent fare such as 2008's "Look What You're Doin to Me," as well as new songs. The groove-consciousness in these 14 tracks is undeniable. Though this set doesn't pack the body punch that some of their live dates have, it's not meant to. With Randolph's wide range of vocal styles and expressions, the smoother approach is welcome. "I Human," with its old-school synth, popping funky bassline, and electric piano, touches on smooth, late-'70s-era, funky jazzy-soul (à la Norman Connors and Roy Ayers), all the while pushing the frame to include contemporary jazz tropes. 

"Believer" is a solid stepper with its rumbling samples and keyboards in the intro, while Randolph near scats in his phrasing as the groove builds to include breaking hi-hats, fat, warm, bubbling bass, and washes of ambient sound. The redone instrumental "La Belle et Fou," with its syncopated horn chart and hand percussion, touches on Latin as well as jazz funk. The mid-register trombone solo soars above the handclaps, silvery guitars, and keys. Randolph is the perfect foil for Jazzanova. He croons, growls, hovers, swoons, and gets gritty as the music dictates, becoming an instrument in the mix rather than just a frontman. Funkhaus Studio Sessions may not break much new ground, but who cares when the music is this well-played and presented? ~ Thom Jurek  http://www.allmusic.com/album/funkhaus-studio-sessions-mw0002328641

Personnel: Arne Jansen (electric guitar, 12-string guitar, nylon-string guitar); Sebastian Borkowski (flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Sebastian Studnitzky (trumpet, grand piano, electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer piano, harmonium, synthesizer); Stefan Ulrich (trombone); Paul Kleber (upright bass, electric bass, percussion); Carl-Michael Grabinger (drums); Stefan Leisering (congas, bongos, percussion); Axel Reinemer (percussion).

Funkhouse Studio Sessions

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