British Alto Saxophonist / Rapper Soweto Kinch's Dune Records Release “Conversations With The Unseen" #5 In Amazon.com (US) Editor's Picks For Top-10 Jazz CDs of 2004
1. Ivey-Divey by Don Byron 2. Funeral for a Friend by Dirty Dozen Brass Band 3. Friends Seen & Unseen by Charlie Hunter 4. Careless Love by Madeleine Peyroux
5. Conversations With the Unseen by SOWETO KINCH (DuneCD08) In the '50s and '60s, Jamaican-born Joe Harriott was the face of Black jazz in Britain, followed by Courtney Pine in the '80s. In 2004, alto saxophonist/rapper Soweto Kinch is the man at the helm. A member of the trailblazing ensemble Jazz Jamaica All Stars, the award-winning Kinch leads a supple and swinging combo through a pleasing and propulsive program that combines straight-ahead jazz with hip-hop, spoken word, and Caribbean elements. Tunes like the Latin-tinged “Doxology," “Snakehips," and the Trane-ish “Equiano's Tears"--dedicated to the 18th century British ex-slave Olaudah Equiano--show that Kinch knows the tradition, from Charlie Parker to Greg Osby. But he also kicks it as a lyricist, as evidenced on the Roots-like jams “Intro," “Outro," “Intermission - Split Decision," and “Good Nyooz," where Eska Mtungwazi's boppish vocals steal the show. God save the swing! -- Eugene Holley, Jr.
6. Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard by Chris Potter 7. Buzz by Ben Allison, Medicine Wheel 8. Mylab by Mylab 9. Eternal by Branford Marsalis 10. End of the World Party: Just in Case (Dig) by Medeski Martin & Wood
1. Ivey-Divey by Don Byron 2. Funeral for a Friend by Dirty Dozen Brass Band 3. Friends Seen & Unseen by Charlie Hunter 4. Careless Love by Madeleine Peyroux
5. Conversations With the Unseen by SOWETO KINCH (DuneCD08) In the '50s and '60s, Jamaican-born Joe Harriott was the face of Black jazz in Britain, followed by Courtney Pine in the '80s. In 2004, alto saxophonist/rapper Soweto Kinch is the man at the helm. A member of the trailblazing ensemble Jazz Jamaica All Stars, the award-winning Kinch leads a supple and swinging combo through a pleasing and propulsive program that combines straight-ahead jazz with hip-hop, spoken word, and Caribbean elements. Tunes like the Latin-tinged “Doxology," “Snakehips," and the Trane-ish “Equiano's Tears"--dedicated to the 18th century British ex-slave Olaudah Equiano--show that Kinch knows the tradition, from Charlie Parker to Greg Osby. But he also kicks it as a lyricist, as evidenced on the Roots-like jams “Intro," “Outro," “Intermission - Split Decision," and “Good Nyooz," where Eska Mtungwazi's boppish vocals steal the show. God save the swing! -- Eugene Holley, Jr.
6. Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard by Chris Potter 7. Buzz by Ben Allison, Medicine Wheel 8. Mylab by Mylab 9. Eternal by Branford Marsalis 10. End of the World Party: Just in Case (Dig) by Medeski Martin & Wood
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