Abdul Zuhri: Positive Vibe (2009)

Abdul Zuhri, professional guitarist / composer / producer. Attended Five Towns College under the Contemporary Jazz Program. Jazz, Rock, Funk, R&B and Blues. I feel very blessed and inspired to have toured, performed, recorded or jammed with such great artists and musicians as Omar Hakim, Jerry Brooks, Herbie Hancock, Paul Taylor, Ramsey Lewis, Paul McCartney, Victor Bailey, Dennis Chambers, Noel Pointer, Hiram Bullock, Art Porter, Onaje Allan Gumbs, Donald Blackman, Michal Urbaniak, Marcus Miller, Dean Brown, Steve Horton, Denzil Miller, Roger Byam, Brian Dunne, JT Taylor, Robert Damper, Al McDowell, Chieli Minucci, Lionel Richie, Angie Stone, Guru, Mary J Blige, Digable Planets, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Tweet, Missy Elliot, Richie Ruiz, Fred LasFargeas, Chico DeBarge, Joe, D’Angelo, Alyson Williams, Fatback Band, Odyssey, Ben E. King, Tom Jones to name a few.

Tracklist:
01. Senorita's [04:11]
02. Funky Montuno [04:13]
03. Positive Vibe [03:48]
04. City Life [03:25]
05. Around the Way [03:02]
06. Time to Heal [05:07]
07. Never Forget to Love [04:26]
08. Utopia [03:46]
09. First Flight [04:21]
10. Dulie's Blues [03:12]
Personnel:
Abdul Zuhri - Guitar
Omar Hakim - Drums
Jerry Brooks - Bass
Roger Byam - Sax
Fred LasFargeas - Keys
Richie Ruiz - Percussion
Positive Vibe
Hotfile / FileServe @ vbr

Bobby McFerrin: Beyond Words (2002)

Creative vocalist Bobby McFerrin's return to Blue Note after a nearly ten-year absence indicates a possible desire for a return to improvised jazz, and in a way distancing himself from the classical works he had become increasingly associated with. Working again with pianist Chick Corea and producer Linda Goldstein, his 2002 album, Beyond Words, is reminiscent of the other McFerrin/Corea collaborations (Play, The Mozart Sessions), but somehow these mostly improvised works lack the spark that their previous partnerships have created. Ably backed by Corea's bright piano, Omar Hakim on drums, and Richard Bona on bass, the songs feel to be all the same texture for the most part, never reaching any kind of a peak throughout the album. Beyond Words is a moody and dark affair, with subtle layers of McFerrin's undulating vocals weaving in and out of the musical bed, but instead of sounding earthy and natural, the album is punctuated by synthesized instruments that pull the recordings dangerously close to smooth jazz territory. Unfortunately, by taking one of the most articulate players of man's earliest instrument and layering it in slick, fretless basslines and synthetic Roland XP-80 chords, it almost defeats the purpose of hearing his voice altogether. Still, it is an excellently performed and cleanly produced document of both McFerrin and Corea's abilities, ideal for gentle background textures on a night in alone. -- AMG

Tracklist:
01. Invocation (Goldstein/McFerrin) — 7:10
02. Kalimba Suite (McFerrin) — 3:40
03. A Silken Road (McFerrin) — 4:28
04. Fertile Field (Goldstein/McFerrin) — 5:44
05. Dervishes (McFerrin) — 2:15
06. Ziggurat (Goldstein/McFerrin) — 5:20
07. Sisters (McFerrin) — 1:22
08. Circlings (McFerrin) — 1:14
09. Chanson (McFerrin) — 1:30
10. Windows (Corea) — 4:01
11. Marlowe (McFerrin) — 4:08
12. Mass (McFerrin) — 2:40
13. Pat & Joe (McFerrin) — 2:11
14. Taylor Made (McFerrin) — 4:22
15. A Piece, a Chord (McFerrin) — 3:46
16. Monks/The Shepherd (McFerrin) — 2:48
Beyond Words
Hotfile / Uploading @ 320K