| Funk and jazz. Smoothed out but meaty, pungent | | | | groove. Their obvious knowledge and the way |
| beats made from an organ, Fender Rhodes piano, | | | | they control the musical elements of their various |
| bass, and fat back drums. A woman's soulful | | | | influences - the harmonies, rhythmic feel, |
| voice; doin' it like Tina Turner said back in the day | | | | appropriate use of chops - takes them beyond |
| when she and Ike took the gentle, country, rock | | | | mere homage to a unique sound. |
| song "Proud Mary" and dowsed it with grease and | | | | "New Train" is an upbeat song that leans to the |
| lit it on fire: nice and easy then nice and rough. | | | | easy going, California, soul side of the funk. The |
| Yeah, we've been hearing this sound from Chaka | | | | intertwining piano, organ and guitar licks are the |
| Khan, representing the funky soul side of the | | | | template for most of the record. Spencer waits |
| sound to Norman Connors and vocalist Jean Carn | | | | to the end of the song to wail a solo, taking the |
| playing their unique brand of multi-cultural, | | | | song to another level. |
| freedom jazz. For those opening your ears for | | | | It is on the song "Getting Nowhere," however - |
| the first time in the 1990's, there was the Brand | | | | the halfway point of the album - where things get |
| New Heavies, whose live action British-born acid | | | | interesting. Luiz' lyrics capture, in the timeless, |
| jazz (the funk breaks from '60's and '70's artists | | | | classy manner of soul storytellers like Smokey |
| like Horace Silver, drummer Idris Muhammad, and | | | | Robinson, the complexities of keeping relationships |
| electric saxophonist Eddie Harris) injected a hip | | | | alive. The intro to the song is a series of tight |
| hop flava, which was the main seasoning on the | | | | unison stop hits by the band, while she sets up |
| neo funk and soul souffle of that time. | | | | the story of the song: "Need help understanding |
| Add to this tradition the band Chewy. Band | | | | this problem with some friends of mine / ... they |
| co-founders Lorrie Ruiz and Joe Doria have | | | | wonder if / The other one's still in love." The |
| created a tight musical unit and a satisfying | | | | music switches gears at a key emotional point - |
| record. Ms. Ruiz' voice is authentically soulful and | | | | "Where? They're gonna get there" - with a blast |
| Doria's Hammond Organ and Fender Rhodes | | | | of electric space jazz, courtesy of Doria's |
| electric piano captures the sound and feeling of | | | | keyboards and Spenser's noise guitar. The funk |
| the McCann, Joe Zawinul (yeah, he played in | | | | snaps back in and rides out the song to its |
| Weather Report but check out his song "Country | | | | bittersweet conclusion. Lyrical content this |
| Preacher" with Cannonball Adderly for the | | | | sophisticated is the biggest surprise. |
| essence of soulful piano) and other keyboardists | | | | This creative mix of lyrics and music that |
| from back in the day. And when he isn't playing | | | | supports and enhances the emotions of the songs |
| airtight, scratchy, wah wah, rhythm riffs or airy, | | | | is evident throughout the record. On the |
| jazz chord voicing, Chris Spencer adds sizzling | | | | otherwise straightforward smooth-groovin' "Don't |
| rock guitar leads to the mix. Anchored by a | | | | Wanna Let You See" the last upbeat line, "Maybe |
| rhythm section of bassist Dayna Smith and Larry | | | | you and I could fall in love / Daydream," the beat |
| Bichler on drums, this band creates tasty tracks | | | | switches to a light Brazilian bossa nova, the |
| that lean heavily on jazzy, funk without all | | | | essence of romance. On "Your Love Changes |
| sounding the same. | | | | Me," after a somber intro, the song kicks into an |
| They are true to the music and keep it real. The | | | | upbeat jazzy soul groove (think Stevie Wonder's |
| authenticity of their approach is found in their | | | | "Jesus Children") while she sings: "Nothing changes, |
| taste and restraint; particularly in Ruiz' singing. | | | | nothing ever stays the same / Til I met you and |
| Even Christina Aguilera and Sharon Jones, two of | | | | the world began to change / ... In each day I see |
| the best soul/R&B vocalists out there, sometimes | | | | a brand new thing that your love takes ... Your |
| go too far into the land of vocal gymnastics. | | | | love changes me." Where upon the music breaks |
| Chewy also differentiates itself from most groups | | | | down to a slow, strident groove with gospel style |
| with its smart arrangements, melodies and | | | | voices and organ. Clearly this is the song's |
| hook-you riffs. Their groove can veer into a | | | | epiphany. Then it kicks into the up tempo groove |
| swing feel or Latin. This Seattle band nods its | | | | on the chorus, where Doria plays yet another |
| head to late '70's Steely Dan's jazz-informed, pop | | | | soulful keyboard solo. |
| sensibility and Oakland's Tower of Power in their | | | | |