Featured Artist: Gregory James

CD Title: Come To Me

Year: 2004

Record Label: Burnside Dist. Corp.

Style: Brazilian Jazz / Brazilian Pop Jazz

Musicians:

Gregory James  (Guitar), Benny Rietveld (bass, programming, sound design), Deszon Claiborn (drums), Karl Perazzo (percussion), Raul Rekow (congas), Celia Malheiros (percussion), Craig Easley (spoken word), Catie Murphy (viola & spoken word),  Irene Sazer (violin), Heine Boloyan (violin), Joe Edelberg (violin), Sarah Knutson (violin), Kayo Miki (violin) Darcy Van Valkenburgh ( violin), Emily Onderdonk (viola), Ben Simon (viola), Hatherine Johnk (viola), Paul Hale (cello), Markika Hughes (cello), Jeremy Cohen (string contractor, violin), Baron Shul (baritone sax, flute), Alex Murzyn (tenor sax), Tom Coster (accordian) , DJ Fly (turntable), Jason Lewis (tabla), Destani Wolf (vocals), Carri Abrahms (vocals), Jenna Mammina (vocals).

Review:

Bring back Elvis! This funky new CD from The Gregory James band titled Come To Me isn’t all together straight jazz and yet not all together world music. The Gregory James Band incorporates Brazil, Afro-Cuban, Gypsy Flamenco and The UK (especially the Liverpool scene) into Come To Me.  It could be album of the year in many circles.

The musicians on this album (there are 29) have all fine-tuned their craft in their individual field, whether it be DJ Fly and his vinyl to Baron Shul with his baritone and tenor sax scattered all throughout this album.

“Let’s get Elvis before he represents Dial Soap!’ is a message in "Jewel Silver (Bring Back Elvis)."  Beat Poet Craig Easley reads/sings incorporates Gregory James into his poem and it works extremely well. Excellent subtle tabla work by Jason Lewis here. Another song, "Chant Odun," which Gregory James plays some great Brazilian style runs with Benny Rietveld, provides us with programming extraordinaire. This album can sit really in any music store category whether it is Jazz, World, Brazilian or flamenco. Gregory James and his all-star cast have put together an excellent album. There is something on here for everyone whether it is the smooth sax of Rita Thies on "Intermezzo" or the beat poetry of Craig Easley and Catie Murphy. In the liner notes Gregory James proclaims that "Love Is All." All ll I have is love for this album.  This is a 2004/2005 must have.

Tracks: Valentine, Irene, Jewel Silver (Bring Back Elvis) Duet #1, Come To Me, Chant Odun, Duet #2, Alphabet Town, Solo Contigo, St. Allison, Intermizzo, Tomorrow.

Artist's Website: http://www.gregoryjames.com

Listen or Buy:

Reviewed by: Brenton Plourde

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