With Smooth Africa and Smooth Africa II already out there forging alliances between American smooth jazz and South African pop, Heads Up tried a third volume in early 2004, ostensibly devoted to more straight-ahead transcontinental pursuits. At first, the promised agenda is followed quite faithfully; trumpeter Marcus Wyatt's "Owed to Bishop" is as straight-ahead a bebop workout as one could find this side of the Blue Note label circa 1965. Pianist Paul Hanmer's more inventive "Naivasha," with its circular passacaglia ...
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With Smooth Africa and Smooth Africa II already out there forging alliances between American smooth jazz and South African pop, Heads Up tried a third volume in early 2004, ostensibly devoted to more straight-ahead transcontinental pursuits. At first, the promised agenda is followed quite faithfully; trumpeter Marcus Wyatt's "Owed to Bishop" is as straight-ahead a bebop workout as one could find this side of the Blue Note label circa 1965. Pianist Paul Hanmer's more inventive "Naivasha," with its circular passacaglia bassline and adventurous soloing, pretty much stays on the reservation, too. But then, township jive elements rear their catchy heads in saxophonist Moses Khumalo's "Celebrate Mzansi" -- and from this point onward, things are no longer on the straight and narrow. Among the more interesting fusions of this and that are the complex, changing rhythms of Voice's "Sweet Anathi," the joyous straight-up mixture of South African pop and smooth jazz on the Sheer All Stars' "Langery," and the latter group's intriguing, introspective "Lovers on Empty Corners," with a touch of wah-wah guitar in the rear. Listeners receive a musical postcard from Darius Brubeck, who has been based at the University of Natal in Durban since 1983. His group Afro Cool Concept has the same alto/piano/bass/drums format as his dad's famous quartets but "Tugela Rail," with its fairly simple piano lines and gently driving beat, operates in a completely different musical world. Heads Up artist Andy Narell makes another appearance on a South African project in "Dee Mwa Wee," a relaxed smooth jazz entry of no great distinction that goes on for too long. If anything, Heads Up's true colors ultimately surface as the program nears its close -- acoustic in instrumentation, yes, but still very much in the smooth jazz pocket. ~ Richard S. Ginell, Rovi
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Add this copy of Africa Straight Ahead to cart. $10.00, new condition, Sold by Music Fiendz rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from South Hackensack, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Heads Up.
Add this copy of Africa Straight Ahead to cart. $12.45, new condition, Sold by insomniacsonline rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from South Hackensack, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 2004 by Heads Up.
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