Good Schema Comp
bordersj2 | Boston | 03/21/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This was a early-mid 2004 release from Idizioni-Ishtar's "Schema" label. It was a true sampler for the label as it had a tracks and titles from within the label and outside in a great showcase of modern jazz sounds with a rearword twist. More than anything, this CD to me was like a stamp on what Schema had been doing for the past year on up to today. The vibe and sound that they were lookin' for.
And I liked this - once again Luciano Cantone and Nicola Conte have put together a great and fair playlist of songs. It starts out with Big Bang's "Speak Low", a cut that changes pace midway through the cuts. But what I think I like most about the track is that for some reason it reminds me of earlier Break & Bossa's with the quick changing cuts and broken beats. Was-A-Bee's "This is What You Are" is also a cut in the new Schema mold. If you are a fan of the Hotel Costes series you'll recognize that a similar rendition was done by Stephane P. and Clementine on volume 6 - a version I admittedly prefer since the vocals on this one seem a bit cheesy. Also on this CD you got to preview the new Conte direction with "Nefertiti", a track with whisping vocals and a quick and subtle bass-line. But another good tune on here is Cabaret Noir's "Ordinary Night" - so gentle! Not to be outshined were Paolo Fedreghini's popular 2003 track "Please Don't Leave" and Schema Sextet's quick and cool "Lothar"; oddly reminding me of football???
There were other good songs on this CD that I enjoyed like Gerardo Frisina's "Gica's Dance" and Doctor Abstract (Gianluca Petrella) with "Struck on Jazz". I think this was more of a testament to some of the jazz albums and artists of old that were inspiration for the 90's nu-jazz/ acid-jazz sounds. Sadly, this along with Post Modern Bossa were the big Schema comps of 2004 since they skipped Break & Bossa at the time establishing the evolving sounds. But... it did admittedly make sense. And with great remix works on Rosalia De Souza's 2004 project and Conte's 2004 release there was more great Schema sound. If you dig this, check out those releases along with Soulstance's "Life Size", Gerardo Frisina's "Hi-Note". And there is another Break & Bossa that was just released in the USA today as an import that shows the funk sound that's been pretty big in the lounge/nu-jazz scene of late with artists like Quantic, Cai, and new The Dining Rooms material given a cool face lift."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1