Reviews-Recensione
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Here's a copy of "Music For America" journalist, John Book's review. To see the complete column click HERE.
"Old Sax Nu Soul (Quality Music) is a title that could be tongue in cheek, suggesting that it's a jazz musician with years of experience creating new music for a new generation. If so, then it's a title that works."
When I listened to this, it was hard for me to believe that this is Eric Daniel's debut album. He has recorded and toured with some of the best in pop and jazz, but has never taken the spotlight for himself until now. It's a shame too, because anyone who loves the smooth jazz and quiet storm of Grover Washington Jr. or some of Michael Brecker's more mellower works will appreciate what Daniel is trying to do. His expertise is not only with the saxophone, but with the flute. Those of you who know me know that I'm a huge fan of the jazz flute, being raised with a dad (r.i.p.) who loved the music of Herbie Mann. His work here is very soothing, and as is the case with "I Wanna See You Dance", very atmospheric.
His playing throughout is very colorful, but never in-your-face. He is very much in control of the moods and textures within his music, never showing off too much but being very confident of his capabilities. While he could be comfortable with playing one or two jazzy styles, there are also a few funk, soul, and some hip-hop flavorered tracks on here, all of them done tastefully. "Art Of Sax (Never Gonna Stop)" has him playing in a soundscape that is one part Herbie Hancock, one part Pete Rock. "Gotham City" adds some spoken work and rock guitar into the mix, almost coming off like a nice hip-hop song in NYC circa 1992.
Old Sax Nu Soul works as smooth jazz, but half of the songs have the kind of punch that might freak out those who are totally crocker. There are one or two songs that slow down the pace of the album, but as a whole it still holds up quite well. It doesn't matter if it's "old sax" or "nu sax", if you can play, just play. That is exactly what Daniel does, and I hope this will be the start of many more albums to come (albeit more frequently).
(Old Sax Nu Soul can be ordered directly through CDBaby.)
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Una recensione di Ilario Pisanu ( da "Il Gufetto" online magazine)
GENERE: Nu soul
MIGLIOR BRANO: I Wanna See You Dance
ASSOMIGLIA A: -
VOTO (0-10): 7.5
ETICHETTA: Quarto Miglio Quality Music
ARTICOLO DEL: 21/11/2006
Eric "Saxman" Daniel, dopo avere suonato sax e flauto per più di trent'anni
in ogni angolo del mondo con artisti del calibro di Natalie Cole, Paul Young,
Zucchero (Sugar) Fornaciari, Carl Anderson, Randy Crawford e tanti altri, presenta
il suo primo disco da solista con la collaborazione del DJ/Produttore Luca Cucchetti
e di un All-Star cast di guest e amici.
"Old Sax Nu soul" è una raccolta sinuosa ed elegante di 16 perle che scavano nel nu soul, la nuova frontiera del soul moderno, fatta di ritmi lenti, eleganti e trascinanti, adatta per serate in compagnia, per momenti di assoluto relax, e perchè no, intimi ed intriganti.
"Old Sax Nu soul" è un lungo percorso costellato di vibrazioni, di lune piene nel cielo, di soli a mezzanotte dispersi nella profondità di un suono "nuovo" che nasce dalle melodie antiche del sax.
Così tra gli artisti che partecipano a questo cd che, a tratti, ha il sapore di una compilation, abbiamo Jenny B, Orlando Johnson, Dr. Feelx, Valentina Ducros, Piera Pizzi, Karen Smith and Fulvio Tomaino, che prestano la loro caldissima voce, e Alex Britti, Luca Casagrande, Nicola Di Staso, Bruno Marinucci and Maurizio Filardo alla chitarra, solo per citarne alcuni.
Dall'intro sinuosissima con "Talkin About Midnight", ai cori caldissimi di "I Wanna See You Dance", dalla stridula e profonda "The Ghetto" all'intensa ed emozionante "Jesus Said".
La title-track "Old Sax Nu Soul" si avvale della bellissima voce di Jenny B, che incarna l'anima del nu soul nel migliore dei modi. Da menzionare ancora, "Art of Sax (never Gonna Stop)", la batmaniana "Gotham City" e i cinque minuti stellari della conclusive "People".
Perché la gente si incontra lì, in quel posto più profondo del profondo dove vive e regna il soul.
A chiudere il booklet del Cd una preghiera: "Grazie Padre, per la tua continua Presenza nella nostra vita. Aiutaci a vederTi quando ci guardiamo negli occhi degli altri".
Ed è proprio questo il magico fascino del soul.
TRACKLIST
1. Talkin About Midnight
2. I Wanna See You Dance
3. Central (fresh)
4. Da Loot
5. The Ghetto
6. Jesus Said
7. Deeper
8. Old Sax Nu Soul
9. Ooh Baby
10. Walkin On Moonlight
11. Art of Sax (never Gonna Stop)
12. Minimal
13. Gotham City
14. Jazz Rhythm
15. The Flow
16. People
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Check out Barry Towler's review published at Soulchoonz.com:
Eric Daniel & Friends - Old Sax Nu Soul
"This cheeky little number is one that almost slipped through my net.
“Old Sax, Nu Soul” is a sturdy, chunky and punchy jazz album
in the vein of the late, great J Spencer that will definitely be one to watch
for.The sax on here is really put to work. Eric Daniel is not afraid of using
this most hallowed instrument as a raw tool. It is sweet, chilled and soulful
one moment, then almost screaming and tortured the next, pushed to its very
limits. The musical tapestry is also very substantial indeed. The beats are
programmed and heavy, almost to the point of hip hop, and the use of some turntable
scratching a la mid/late 80s is used as is sexy synths, warm keys and an exuberant
mix of vocalists. Some material on here is spoken word and Eric voices the narrative
in his rich, sensual deep tones, reminding me of Mistah Llou from the recent
Steppers Odyssey project.
Eric is very much in command of all aspects of the groove on this CD, and I
beg you not to let the heavier facets of this release put you off.
I heartily recommend the luxurious and cool “Walking On Moonlight”…imagine a sultry New York evening with the sound of sax drifting out from an open window. Very nice indeed, and the ethereal synth and tinkling piano add to the late night lustre of the song. The erotic groove of “Ooh Baby” may be vocally monotonous, but whoever he has his hands on is obviously worth it, and if it’s all the same to you, Eric, I won’t take your word for it – send her round to me, and I’ll soon be the judge of that! The track that will cause some commotion will be the title track, “Old Sax, Nu Soul” with its early 90s type urban groove and echoey sax and fine female vocals almost like Rosie Gaines work fantastically. The bluesy opening to Gotham City soon leads to a fine drumbeat, muted trumpet and freaky sounds a la the Sunburst band. The spoken word is deep, controlled and perfectly in tune with the screaming sax and bluesy guitar. Excellent stuff! Another spoken word gem is the righteous groove of “Deeper”, utilising some superb African percussion. At only under two minutes, though, I was left wanting much more! My personal favourite is the sensual and erotic chiller, “People”. I get chills when I play this. The synth reminds me of Jua’s recent gem, “Dream”. Subsequently its gets played a lot, and I think that this demands a purchase on this song alone! Do not let this one slip through the net!"
Barry Towler