CD/LP/Track Review
Samantha Siva: Identity
C. Michael Bailey
...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...Jazz?. Well, Probably no more than Sade or Anita Baker are jazz. In fact the British cum Sri Lankian Siva is an interesting cross between Sade, Baker, Janet Jackson, and Mariah Carey (without the high notes). Her music is decidedly well-produced (I mean slick) and performed (as is any music that bears the mark of David Benoit). It is jaunty, funky, shimmering Pop that slums on the edge of contemporary jazz much in the same way, but with less authenticity as Sting using Branford Marsalis. Don’t get me wrong, this is not bad music. But it is not jazz. It is popular music composed, performed, and engineered with a greater aplomb than ninety percent of the similar music currently being played. Siva certainly deserves close attention, just not in the jazz arena.
Track Listing: I Can
Personnel: Samantha Siva: Vocals,Keyboards, Bass; David Benoit: Keyboards; Jon Ferrarro: Drums; Ken Wild: Bass; Brad Dutz: Percussion; Tim Weisberg; Flute; Richard Elliot; Tenor Saxophone; David Mann: Saxophones
Record Label: Genie | Style: Fringes of Jazz
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