Search - Gil Parris :: Strength

Not good enough

L. Lagendijk | Goes, the Netherlands | 09/21/2006

(1 out of 5 stars)

"To tell you the truth, I was a bit disappointed hearing Gil Parris' new album. I liked his brilliant debut cd, but this album is full of electronic drums and programmed basses which doesn't fit Gil's style. He is a guy who needs real musicians and instruments. And why on earth is he doing a new version of an old song? Bad taste. The feel and the chops are completely gone. O yes, on `Blue thumb' he did a briljant job with `An ardent man', but that was a different approach and arrangement. But on `Strenght' he played the old song poorly with a beat arrangement. So, what have we got? `Jazz night out' is a modern twist with a lot of beats and scratches. Average. `Ibiza' is a real good song with great chops and a fine electric piano solo by Bob Baldwin. That makes the difference. `The duck walk' is saved by Randy Brecker, but again the drum programming sucks. `Together again' could have been a fine song with a real drummer. Nice organ though. `Strength' is the best song of the album. And... real live drums and jazz guitar. `When love was new' with synth bass and drum programming and played slightly faster compared with the old 1998 version perhaps is good for live gigs but not for a new album. In `At the metro' you can here a poor repetition. The worst song of the album. `If it feels good' is a feel good song, with a lot of sax and organ and is allright. `Commitment' is a slow and nice ballad. `Your embrace' had synth bass and drum programming too but played by Michael Colina is better for the ears, although the song is so-so. And so I have to say: this album is very very average. And that's not good enough. I mean, listen to a guitarist like Steve Briody. The same music but with better arrangements and real instrumentation. I'm sorry Gil, but you can do much better."