Search - Crusaders :: Rural Renewal

Enchanting Mix

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 05/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This reunion CD comes on the heels of several other "Jazz Crusaders" reunions that included Wayne Henderson; so while it might be hard for fans to get a handle on "Will the real band please stand up?", "Rural Renewal" is an excellent set on its own terms. David Ritz who wrote the lyrics to Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" does the liner notes that detail the course of jazz from the 60s to the present & how the Crusaders/Jazz Crusaders fit within that era. Joe Sample wrote most of the songs and does a great job such as on the loose "Shotgun House Groove" that producer Stewart Levine allows the band members to improvise over the central riff with great result. On "The Territory," Wilton Felder's tenor sax settles into the groove and explodes into a delightful ride. Drummer Stix Howse penned "Greasy Spoon" that sets a funky beat with Sample's keyboards & Felder's sax in a luxurious duel. "Lazy Sundays" is breezy & laid back. Perhaps the most memorable tracks open the set with Eric Clapton guesting on both the energetic title track & the blues jam "Creepin'." A quote from Donnie McClurkin on the Oprah Winfrey show just after 9/11 lead to the lyric composition between Sample & Will Jennings on "A Healing Coming On." The Sounds of Blackness guest on the track, giving a moving gospel feel. "Rural Renewal" is an excellent set that marries jazz, blues & soul into an enchanting mix. Enjoy!"

New Brand New

W. Noshie | Beirut, Lebanon | 03/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although the band consists only of very fine musicians, for some reason, they would not interact musically well enough with each other; The Crusaders were never able deliver a consistent album start to finish; good music here and there; except this time; "Rural Renewal" is the best release ever for the band. With Eric Clapton as a guest guitarist, Joe Sample and Wilton Felder are simply amazing from start to finish. Releasing their first album 44 years ago, these guys are at top of their career today.

"Rural Renewal" is recommended for any new fan that is into Soul Jazz, Crossover Jazz, or Fusion. It is even more recommended for the old fans who thought that the Crusaders's history was over.

If you like this album you would also like

Joe Sample: Old Places, Old Faces

Joe Sample: Ashes to Ashes

George Duke: After hour

The Crusaders: Finest Hour

"

A good one to add to the collection

J. Johnson | Manassas, VA | 10/18/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"in the mid '70's The Crusaders were my entry point into jazz. They were close enough to R&B and soul music that I could understand them-unlike the fusion Gods of the time and especially the "outside" jazz folks. Having four equally talented soloists reallly set them apart and the groove was deep and wide.



Fast forward to today. The Crusaders return with Rural Renewal. It's a different record from the classic sound. Without Wayne Henderson high in the mix it loses the brassiness found on records like Southern Knights and Scratch. Also for the biggest part the guitar tracks are laid down in the groove instead of screaming over the top of it. In particular I miss Larry Carlton and his ability to take over a song and take it to new places.



So do I hate the CD. NO-I THINK ITS REALLY GOOD. Sample and Felder are fun to listen to-they are such consumate pros. Clapton's playing is tasty and the Donnie McClurkin vocal on A Healing Coming On is just really nice. That's the problem-it's a really nice cd, when The Crusaders at their best are transcendent.



I recomend buying this one, or at a minimum downloading Rural Renewal, Creepin' Heartland, Healing, Sing the Song, Shotgun House Groove and Greasy Spoon."