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HAR-YOU Percussion Group: Sounds of the Ghetto Youth
ByThough the mood is constantly upbeat and infectious, bristling with African and jazz rhythms, singer Antonio Santa Cruz injects some sixties rock phrasing into "Feel Me Good." With its percolating percussion and a pumping bass line, the song is reminiscent of Santana, while pianist Nick Kirksey's comping and melodic ideas gives it added strength.
"Oua-Train" is the perfect synthesis of rhythms. Alto saxophonist Nelson Sanamiago lays it open with a jazz groove, before the percussion grabs the rhythm and drives it into Latin mode. Sanamiago surges on a storm of ideas vented by his remarkable imaginationconfident without being brash, and infusing the music with a potent dynamism.
African rhythms are constructed through the plethora of percussion and the call of Santa Cruz on "Ngoma." This is pure Africa in the pulse, the beat and the evolution, as drums and voice complement and respond to each other. As the tempo picks up Santa Cruz remains a sentinel, but the drums are joined by a chorus of voices, making the lure complete.
Sadly, HAR-YOU made just one record. It stands as a testimony to what can be achieved through a positive vision and voices that share a passion for musical creativity.
Track Listing
Feed Me Good; Barretts Bag; Ngoma; Oua-Train; Welcome To The Party; Santa Cruz; Tico; HAR-YOU Theme; Montego Joe's HAR-YOU Postscript.
Personnel
Roger "Montego Joe" Sanders: leader; Nick Kirksey: piano; Ray Allen: flute; Nelson Sanamiago: alto saxophone; Dennis Taitt: guitar; Joffre Marchand, Stafford Osborne: trumpets; John Moody: bass; Myles Matthews: timbales, bongos; Billy King: congas; Gordon "Spider" Jones: timbales; Antonio Santa Cruz: cowbell, vocals; Sam Turner: timbales, congas; David "Mousie" Edmead: piano (2); Joseph Jimenez: claves (2, 7).
Album information
Title: Sounds of the Ghetto Youth | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: ESP Disk
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Quartet (GTM) 2006