Search - Evertte Harp :: For the Love

Am I becoming too demanding ?

Torquemada | Atlanta, Georgia USA / Madrid, Spain. | 11/06/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I was absolutely thrilled when I received my copy of Everette's new cd ! Directly into my cd player and bingo ! First track kicks off with strength. Funky Bass, clear drum, and Everette doing his thing. A clear "single" (though that doesn't exist anymore) for airplay.The second track pretends to be soft funky. But it already starts scaring me, because I have the impression I have heard this before. Dave Koz or Richard Elliott on their latest albums ? It looks like it. At the end of track 7 I feel sort of tired, depite of the extraordinary "I miss me with you". End of the record and repeat. Same impression. I take it easy and say to myself that I should listen to it again at another time (you know about the moods). I listen to it again and catacroc....Is it me, is it that the smooth jazz formula is going out of fashion, or is it that Sax players have become interchangeable ? Everette Harp sounds like Dave Koz, that sounds like Richard Elliott, that sounds like Boney James, and we could go on like this until we reach (OOOOoooooooooh no !) Kenny (multimillionaire now) Gorelic. What I think is that this album is a nice little album, very middle of the road like, risk free, but also a bit repetitive, as well the way it is produced, played, as its content (a couple of tracks with vocals, and the inevitable cover versions, in this case "Put it where you want it" that you can already hear on Jarreau's latest, and "Where were you...", from Stevie Wonder). After listening to the cd several times you find out that the high moments are the opening and the closing tracks. Already about to hit the button that the review wasn't helpful ? Wait ! I really like most of Everette Harp's work, but I thought that his previous work (Better Days) had more energy and was more personal than this one. That's maybe why I was over expecting for this one..."

Harmony Melody Phrasing Groove: Inspired Musician delivers!

Torquemada | 02/19/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Brilliant! I have yet to hear Everette Harp play without class, soul, beautiful phrasing and waste people's time with poorly written songs featuring your typical boring uninspired saxophone line. There is no danger of that happening here and like on every single one of his other cds the master Saxman brings beauty and passion to the melodies. We're dealing with an inspired player. It's rare to hear in smooth jazz a musician that has not lost the sense of melody due to the fact of playing over SWING 16ths notes groove. It's very hard to write inspired melodies over SWING 16ths. Indeed what usually happens is that the groove is there but the melodies become sterile. Few artists though know how to make melody come first, take the time and sweat to harmonize these melodies with gorgeous suspended chords and still groove and phrase beautifully on top of that. Everette Harp is one of them. When a melody would be better served WITHOUT a swing 16th groove and needs a straight 16ths a to pack more emotional value then Everette makes the right choice. I love to hear that commitment to beauty and taste in music. This is the same reason for which I truly enjoy other truly talented musicians such as Guitarist Chieli Minucci or Guitarist Norman Brown. In summary the man clearly deserves more recognition. Hopefully more people will give a listen and feel the deep joy and love for music that comes out of these tracks and take this artist to the level of recognition he could enjoy. Thank you Everette, it's a joy listening to your music!"

Still sounds good

M. Hedges | London, UK | 05/20/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"i had this in my player this afternoon , i had'nt played it for a couple of years and was surprised to hear how good it still sounds."