Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Sam Newsome: Global Unity

Sam Newsome: Global Unity

By Glenn Astarita
September 1, 2001
View read count

Sam Newsome performs solely on soprano saxophone with his debut for 'Palmetto Records' while continuing his affinity for integrating World rhythms, disparate modalities and endearing melodies into exotic frameworks for jazz-based motifs. Here, the artist views his second 'Global Unity' release as being somewhat of an expansion over his 1999 effort.

Essentially, Newsome's mindset, or approach might spur thoughts of Pat Metheny's 80's group or perhaps the 70's pairing of soprano sax great Wayne Shorter and Brazilian vocalist, Milton Nascimento. However, the saxophonist's multifaceted approach is framed around a series of Eastern, North African, Calypso, Brazilian, and Afro Cuban rhythms alongside Elisabeth Kontomanou's lyric less vocals, evidenced on such upbeat pieces as 'When You See the Light' and 'A Night In Indonesia.' Otherwise, Ugonna Okegwo's pumping bass lines and Satoshi Takeishi's subtly energetic yet nimbly executed percussion grooves provide the undertow for Newsome's mystical overtones and fluent thematic developments. Hence, melody is the key ingredient throughout this nicely produced and altogether articulately performed recording, as the music is apt to prod or stimulate your psyche.

Overall, Newsome's musical metaphors might remind us that self imposed cultural barriers have no place in music or life as the saxophonist and his top-notch accompanists cunningly drive that point home via a series of harmoniously performed and tremendously absorbing works. Recommended!

Palmetto Records

Track Listing

When You See The Light; A Night In Indonesia; An Afrasian Occasion; The Wedding March Of A Playboy; Into-Nation Of Islam; Bongo Betty; the Sucker?s Game; Dance Of The Deli Lama; Dread Man Walking; When You Hide From Me

Personnel

Sam Newsome

saxophone, soprano

Sam Newsome; soprano sax: Elisabeth Kontomanou; voice: Marvin Sewell; guitars: Jean-Michel Pilc; piano: Ugonna Okegwo; bass: Satoshi Takeishi; Japanese percussion: Gilad; percussion: Guest Artists: Mel Baker; electric bass: Matt Balitsaris; mandola, 12 strong guitar: Jeff Berman; vibes, percussion: Adam Carey; steel pan, percussion: Kahil Kwame Bell; kalimba: Meg Okura; violin

Album information

Title: Global Unity | Year Released: 2001 | Record Label: Palmetto Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Expositions of Freedom...Now!
< Previous

Waterfall Cities
Next >

Sam Newsome Concerts

Sep 27 Sat

Ingardens Festival

First Street Green Cultural Park
New York, NY

Sep 28 Sun

Ingardens Festival

First Street Green Cultural Park
New York, NY

Nov 12 Wed

Stephan Crump With Sam Newsome & Dan Weiss

Close Up
New York, NY

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.