Beverley Knight: Soul UK

Beverley Knight (vocals)

Soul UK (Hurricane Records; 2011)

Beverley Knight has been turning out some of the best Soul on either side of the Atlantic for well over a decade now. She has moved elegantly between Soul, garage, dancefloor, rock and Northen Soul with ease and dominance. On her latest and seventh album, Soul UK (Hurricane) she delivers a massive "thank you" to the British artists that have inspired her.

Soul UK isn't your typical covers albums. It really is a step above that. What makes a covers album brilliant is the ability for the artist to make the songs their own. Not just a straight translation. Beverley does this and more. The other great thing about Soul UK is Beverley's choices of tracks to cover. They aren't the typical hits. Yes, we will all know most of these songs, but they aren't the "number 1 hits" you would expect. Which says something about the artist again--she respects the original big hits and doesn't want to tamper with that perfection. She wants to educate the audience on the greater but lesser known hit.

Beverley Knight does a marvelous job of deconstructing and revitalizing some of these tracks. On "Southern Freeez" (originally written by Freeez featuring John Rocca), Knight strips away the synth parts but leaves the infectious bassline and upbeat fun aspect of the song. By doing this she creates a joyful soul number that sounds completely Beverley Knight. It's a love song and a celebration and the lyrics to song stand the test of time (almost 30 years...jeez, I'm old).

"Say I'm You're Number One" (written by Princess) is a song I really didn't remember. On first listen I thought this was the lone original from Beverley on the album. I then looked at booklet and realized wow, this is Princess, and this midtempo ballad suited Beverley's voice perfectly!  She delivers a wonderful rendition that other artists today destroy with a load of unnecessary vocal histrionics. The Young Disciples are given an incredible homage through "Apparently Nothin'". Beverley Knight pulls the speed back on track and gives it a deeper soulful feel then the Acid Jazz tempo of the original. Carleen Anderson is another one of my favourite soul singers so this is a tough call on how to treat both versions. I'm giving a tip of the hat to Bev for the addition of Roots Manuva on the track.

Probably the godfathers of late 20th century British soul, Loose Ends, were also an influence of Beverley Knight (not surprising, really). "Don't Be A Fool" is a really lesser known track for American audiences but its a track with a powerful message for uplifting the spirit. Knight's version doesn't stray too far from the original but her focus is more on the lyrics and less on the production. One of the problems I always had with the original is the lyrics were amazing but drowned out by the electronic production. Beverley's version brings those words to life with a real emotional impact. Probably one of the least known artists outside of England is Andrew Roachford. Beverley gives him the respect he deserves with "Cuddly Toy". Roachford at the time (early 90s) was great mixture of Soul, Pop and Rock - very hard for people to grapple with that at the time (why, I will never know). Knight turns "Cuddly Toy" into a fiery Ike & Tina romp. It's probably the most fun on the album, bringing back memories of Beverley's Motor City Soul album from a few years back.

It seems lately that Lewis Taylor is also finally getting the wider audience he deserves as well. While Taylor never wanted the fame, the people he has influenced continues to grow. Recently Robbie William's covered  "Lovelight"; now Beverley Knight pays her respects with "Damn", a killer love letter that keeps the musical structure of the original but in Knight's hands has a deep blues vibe to it. Soul UK closes in style with George Michael's "One More Try". Knight retains the gospel dialogue of the original but strips away the keyboards in favour of the acoustic piano/organ to drive the message home. The music boils with emotion and actually blows the original into little tiny pieces.

Soul UK includes a much longer list of re-imagined classics from Soul II Soul, Jamiroquai, Omar, Heatwave and more but I would still be writing and you really need that time to go and purchase this album. Beverley Knight has turned these modern day Soul classics into her own and in some cases brought out an even more powerful essence from the lyrics. The stripped down quality of music allows Knight to explore the pieces from both structural and vocal standpoints. This is a perfect introduction to some of the missing and missed soul classics of the last 3 decades, as well as one the best "standards" albums you will hear all year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The Intersection: Fania

The Intersection is an ongoing feature on JazzWrap that looks at artists who have blended jazz, world and electronica in new and highly creative ways.


Fania

Fania Records 1964 - 1980: The Original Sound Of Latin New York (Strut Records; 2011)

Various Artists

On this blistering hot afternoon in New York City what better music to be spinning than Fania. In the last few years there has been a resurgence of interest in the highly influential Latin rhythms of Fania Records. A plethora of releases have been reissued and unreleased recordings bubbled to the surface. All these can be extremely overwhelming, especially when you only have a brief knowledge of the label and some of its artists. The recently released Fania Records 1964-1980: The Original Sound Of Latin New York (Strut) is hands-down one the best compilations to represent the label and the artists with the respect and glamour it and they so richly deserve.

At a time well before the music industry started to accept Latin music as a viable source of income on the popular music side and well before Santana emerged on the scene, there was the Latin and Afro influence of Fania. The original creation of the now legendary clarinetist and bandleader, Johnny Pacheco, the label fused the interests of Spanish Harlem and the young vibe of the city into an infectious dancefloor groove that would influence countless artists to come. This compilation collects some of most important tracks spanning almost two decades. For many, you will recognize classics like Celia Cruz & Johnny Pacheco's monster groove of "Quimbra." This duo recorded a slew of records for the label and this was one of their most popular tunes. Cruz is in prime form and shows why she is considered the Queen of Latin music.

Johnny Pacheco's own "Dakar, Punto Final" has all the roots of salsa, merengue, charanga and other Latin sub-genres. It's hip-shaken' bass/percussion mixed with the cacophony of horns will make you want to throw an impromptu party after listening. Mongo Santamaria is featured here with the classic "O Mi Shango". Mongo Santamaria was already becoming a star on the jazz scene as a result of John Coltrane's rendition of "Afro Blue" a few years earlier. Along with artists such as Ruben Blades, Hector Lavoe, Joe Bataan and the great Willie Colon, Johnny Pacheco would later develop what most people may know these artists by--The Fania All-Stars. This massive collective performed around the world to insanely large audiences. This was the real spreading of the Latin vibe and would have a profound affect on jazz and world music from America to England to Africa.

Fania Records 1964-1980 is a real treasure trove of Latin classics spanning 2 discs (29 songs) but it is also a document of one of the most important labels and artists to come out of the New York City at the time. These artists influenced generations both in jazz, rock and world music. Their impact really can't be questioned or overstated. Even if you only know a small bit about Latin music you need to own this compilation. It's not just a history lesson its a party album to beat all party albums. And if you are a jazz fan its should be in your collection. Period. A real must have. 

Ralph Alessi: Wiry Strong

Ralph Alessi (trumpet)

Wiry Strong (Clean Feed; 2011)

Ravi Coltrane (sax)

Drew Gress (bass)

Mark Ferber (drums)

Andy Milne (piano)

Ralph Alessi's music always has a well structured, complex and cinematic feel to it. He was raised and trained as a classical trumpeter, and it shows throughout all of his releases with a supreme mastery of his instrument. The combination of that classical technique and his love of modern jazz structures makes for exciting and diverse albums every time out.

His work with fellow trailblazing musicians such as Jason Moran, Don Byron, Uri Caine, Steve Coleman among others has put him in an almost indescribable category. Most jazz fans would describe his music as avant garde but his latest, Wiry Strong (Clean Feed Records) feels like his most accomplished and accessible album to date.

Wiry Strong magnificently weaves together diverse ideas, turning them into romantic adventures and in some cases fun excursions. "Station Wagon Trip" has a big orchestrated tone but it is also enveloped a sense of a group moving forward in sound. There are spiraling rhythms that are enhanced by Andy Milne on piano and Ravi Coltrane. Alessi's performance carries the listener on what feels like a surreal journey but this all works as an enjoyable experience that can easily be grasped by even the newest fan to Alessi's music. 

"Halves And Wholes" is probably the most beautiful piece on the record. It definitely highlights Alessi's contemporary/straight ahead abilities both in composition and performance. This is a ballad which the band is integral but Alessi carries the tune with a soft touch that is match wonderfully by Milne.

"A Dollar In Your Shoe" and "20% Of The 80%" are both fun pieces combining multi-layered structures with some crisp performances by Gress and Ferber (in the case of "Dollar"). Alessi's muted trumpet of "20% Of The 80%" adds a level of mystery to the piece along with rolling, repeating patterns from Ferber that keep the avant garde and forward thinking spirit of this group alive. "Wiry Strong" closes out the session in a searching yet forward thinking mode. Alessi and Coltrane lead the group upward in both timing and adventure.

With Wiry Strong, Ralph Alessi has created an album of incredibly rich concepts and captivating melodies that will be rewarding for fans new and old. Ralph Alessi like his many collaborators is among the rare group of musicians who are continuing to push jazz forward and beyond its traditional definitions. Highly Recommended.

JD Allen: Victory!

JD Allen (sax)

Victory! (Sunnyside Records; 2011)

Rudy Royston (drums)

Gregg August (bass)

I don't own a lot of JD Allen records but after this truly astounding effort I really have to do some more record shopping this weekend. Victory!, JD Allen's third album for Sunnyside Records (fifth overall) is a shinning piece of brilliance that celebrates the unity of his trio that has been together for five years. 

The compositions on Victory! are big, bold and definitely ambitious. There are shades of Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders for those not familiar with his material but you soon become absorbed in the direction of Allen's compositions and you realize he has his own voice and vision. Allen's choice of working specifically in the trio format for the last few years definitely makes his unit stand above some of the other trios (mainly utilizing the piano, bass, drums lineup) currently on the scene today.

"Victory!," opens the session in meditative fashion with Royston and August slowly building up the tone for Allen to burst into with exuberance upon the mountain top. It's a melodic piece that feels like a funeral march but it's a celebration of life and all of one's victories over adversity. It's a contemplative but gritty tone that should have everyone stopping what their doing and focusing inward.

Victory! circles around many motifs but one that is omnipresent is that of Eastern thought. "Sura Hinda" will definitely have you in a more spiritual mode as Allen illustrates his complex and reflective writing style. Allen is matched perfectly by Royston's bombastic movements on drums and the low level strumming from August that evokes moments of spirituality to most listeners.

"Motif" while extremely short, has a steady, muscular bounce. The band cuts loose in a post bop manner with a hard melody and some very crisp passages. All of this is rolled together in just under three minutes. It's striking, blissful and leaves you begging for more. "Mr. Steepy" is joyful and full of bop sensibilities that, while reminiscent of that influential era, still manages to deliver a present-day attitude and energy that is looking and searching for the future.

The JD Allen Trio never seems to overshadow each other. A really great sign of a group that has been together a long time. Allen's thinking and writing continues to grow on the records that I've listened to and he is definitely one the brightest new talents of this young century. Let's hope his work in the trio format stays for a long time to come. Victory! is one of those superior records you must experience.