Native Soul - One Mind

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:43
Size: 144,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:59)  1. The Gathering
(7:32)  2. So Amazing
(6:26)  3. Alone
(5:01)  4. Malinda
(9:10)  5. Pedal Down
(6:30)  6. Baby You're a Rich Man
(6:47)  7. Dharma
(5:21)  8. It's You or No One
(6:06)  9. If You Don't Want Me (As Much as I Want You)
(4:46) 10. Overjoyed

Third release from veteran jazz group Native Soul. Follow-up to previous effort Soul Step (which reached #18 on the national jazz charts), presented in an acoustic format with new twists on familiar tunes by Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, and Lennon & McCartney. Saxophone titan Peter Brainin propels this powerful quartet through these ten wonderful selections. Features Noah Haidu, one of the up & coming pianists of his generation, along with acoustic bass giant Marcus McLaurine and the exceptional drumming of Steve Johns. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/One-Mind-Native-Soul/dp/B008RTF2FY

Personnel:  Peter Brainin - Saxophone;  Noah Haidu - Piano;  Marcus McLaurine - Bass;  Steve Johns - Drums.

One Mind

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Native Soul - Soul Step

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop

Year: 2011

Time: 69:18

Size: 96,8 MB

Art: Front

(5:39)  1. Soul Step
(7:49)  2. End of a Love Affair
(5:52)  3. Deep Blue
(4:42)  4. Inner Search
(7:17)  5. Mingus
(5:29)  6. Slipstream
(7:22)  7. Castles Made of Sand
(5:26)  8. Into the Night
(9:04)  9. Talking Drum
(5:26) 10. One for Op

(5:38) 11. Gift Within

Native Soul Soul Step is a stylistically coherent and well executed effort. The quartet a classic keyboards, saxophone, bass and drums lineup plays mostly straight-ahead, but adds enough instrumental and musical variation to keep it fresh throughout. Keyboardist Noah Haidu is the collective's founder, and is the source of a good portion of the music's diversity. By switching between piano and Fender Rhodes with a dash of B-3 organ and synthesizer he adds just the right touch of funk and nostalgia to the set, making a credible effort at evoking several distinct styles of jazz. The title track opens with a funky bass vamp, overlaid by some bell-like keyboard tones and Peter Brainin's soprano saxophone. Collectively they recreate a sound that could have easily come from a 1973 date on the CTI label, but that vibe immediately gives way to a more modern feel, as Brainen and Haidu switch to piano and tenor respectively, for "End of a Love Affair," employing some bold, modal chord blocking. Brainin's "Mingus" is a 3/4 vehicle for his grooved tenor improvisation, while Haidu employs a chopped waltz background comp, giving the track a smoky club feeling. The funk reemerges in a big way when bassist Marcus McLaurine breaks open Jimi Hendrix's "Castles Made of Sand." The band really nails this one, using the original melody judiciously as an opening statement and as a framework for improvisation, restating the theme enough to be recognizable, but altering it sufficiently so as to avoid outright imitation. In the collectively written liner notes, the band reminisces about the days when music was not a ubiquitous digital commodity, but something into which people had to put some thought. Getting one's paws on the latest releases wasn't always as simple as making a few keystrokes on a computer. Perhaps Native Soul longs for the opportunity to have its CD prominently featured in the new releases section at the front of the store. Soul Steps might have gotten some traction from music shoppers looking for a solid effort from a group of really fine musicians. ~ Greg Simmons https://www.allaboutjazz.com/soul-step-native-soul-talking-drum-records-review-by-greg-simmons.php

Personnel: Peter Brainin: tenor and soprano saxophones, flute; Noah Haidu: piano, keyboards; Marcus McLaurine: electric and acoustic bass; Steve Johns: drums.

Soul Step

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