Featured Artist: Cruiserman

CD Title: Booboo

Year: 2006

Record Label: Self-Released

Style: Acid Jazz

Musicians: Michael Harwood (guitar, programming), Dyan Burrell (vocals),  John Keenan (vocals)

Review:

Multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and producer Michael Harwood, internationally known as Cruiserman, gives smooth funk and chillout grooves atoms of acid/electronica jazz and showers of soul which sow warmth and bliss into the modal harmonies on his songs from his latest release Booboo. Produced by Cruiserman with some tracks co-produced by his good friend Markus Wagner, the album has reflections of urban funk on tracks like “Someone Like You” and “Could You Be The One“ featuring the Quiet Storm vocal styling of Dyan Burrell, and the smoky country-blues textures stirred up by singer-songwriter John Keenan on numbers like “Moonshine” and “Let Me Go.”

Cruiserman describes his music as “warm funk on a cool day” and manages that feat by combining elements of fusion, smooth funk, soul, blues-folk, and west coast acid jazz into his musical composites. Of course, Cruiserman’s west coast isn’t California but Cornwall, England. The movements are palatial with pleasing esthetics and fluid progressions that comfort the listener with easy rolling wavelets.

The album commences with tangy guitar sequences and island beats on “Feel Real Bad,” wrapped by the raspy blues-folk timbres of Cruiserman, himself, recalling the roughen hues of Joe Cocker and Buddy Miller. The smooth jazz synth escapes of “Cruisin’ Part One” are pulsed by club beats giving the number a West Coast ambiance. The bluesy chillout tempo of “Love Is” has a cool island sway integrating urban funk raptures which excite the delicate keys of the momentum. The electrifying coils of fusion and acid/electronica jazz phrases on “Booboo” are captivating with balmy tones and stimulating patinas.

The amorous cocktail blend of smooth soul and soft funk on “Could You Be The One” has a trance quality, gently sensual and warmly lit. The urban jazz grooves of “Urban Picnic” are fluidly strewn fastening sprigs of pulsating guitars and bass effects. The lounge feel of Burrell‘s vocals on “So Complicated” is soulfully sweet while the coarse voicing of Keenan on “Let Me Go” concludes the album with a tortured soul in search of solace.

Booboo is an amalgam of jazz, funk, soul and blues-folk which manifest into waves of cool funk and trance jazz. The songs are sensuous with fluid movements and stimulating lifts that bring you in and free you of the burdens that weigh you down. It’s aromatherapy for the soul, opening channels that have been blocked and enjoying the pleasures of blissful melodies. Michael Harwood started in the music business as a Decca Records artist and a session guitarist. Today, he and his wife Ann own and operate Cruiserman Recording Studios in Cornwall and continue to find inspiration in the cool breezes of England’s west coast and club vibe of the UK‘s night life.

Tracks: Feel Real Bad, Someone Like You, Cruisin' Part One, Moonshine, Love Is, Booboo, Could You Be The One, Urban Picnic, So Complicated, Let Me Go

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

Listen or Buy: www.cruiserman.com/boo-boo.html

Reviewed by: Susan Frances

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