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“Latitudes”
SMOOTH JAZZ NEWS, August, 2001
“What’s
New & Hot – Recommended Listening” by Jonathan Widran
This very likeable, super-melodic ensemble led by acoustic
guitarist and marimba player Jonathan Coleman is receiving some smooth
jazz airplay, but the overall vibe is much more cosmopolitan than the
average genre project.
Moving from track to track is a bit like genre hopping through a
cool world groove landscape, hitting big continents (Africa, South
America) and also tiny tropical islands along the way.
Manhattan is an island of a different type, but Coleman joins
powerhouse jazzy pals Gerald Albright (who plays in a smokey,
traditional sax style we haven’t heard much since his early 90’s
live date at Birdland), pianist Patrice Rushen and drummer Terri Lyne
Carrington for the funky trad-jazz fusion of “November High”.
“Scared to Love”, which features Coleman solely on a
shimmering marimba melody as well as Albright, Rushen and drummer Ndugu
Chancler, continues in that laid back late night jazz club style.
The world beat material ranges from the breezy Latin gem
“Flotilla” (which features Coleman’s plucky nylon string and a
peppy flute melody by Albright) to the easily funky “Costa del Sol”
and the heavy percussive African jam “Dunes”, which alternates moods
liberally.
Mamak Khadem’s wailing vocal chants and Coleman’s gentle
guitar melody lead into an edgy mix of electric guitar and throbbing
baseline reminiscent of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine”.
“Falling Again” is all calypso delight, while “December
Bossa” approximates the Rio thing.
Hats off to Coleman and company for their boldness in mixing
genres so liberally on one project, all so appealingly.
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