Search - Jazzhole :: Circle of the Sun

Sophisticated mix of jazz, soul, ambient and world flavors

hyperbolium | Earth, USA | 02/12/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"New York City's Jazzhole offers up their fourth full-length album of sophisticated neo-soul and nu-jazz, continuing the exploration of down-tempo, late-night sounds picked up on 2000's "Blackburst." The laid-back beats exude a surprising amount of energy ("quiet is the new loud," as they say), and guest tabla player Naren Budhakar adds exquisite deep texture and non-Western rhythms.While there are many contemporary touchstones for Jazzhole's music (e.g., Brand New Heavies, Sade), it also harkens back to both soul, funk and R&B sounds of the 70s (e.g., Al Green, Tower of Power, and Earth, Wind & Fire) as well as easy listening instrumentalists of the 50s (e.g., Arthur Lyman's proto-worldbeat jazz, the otherworldly work of Esquivel, etc.). The band's modern production renews the vintage sounds with an atmospheric mix of jazz changes, slow, sensual R&B melodies and South American rhythms (the latter, courtesy of percussionist Daniel Sadowinick).The band's three principles (and the album's producers) Marlon Saunders, John Pondel and Warren Rosenstein have crafted a terrifically subtle blend of instruments and vocals, often shading a composition with nearly ambient touches of violin or organ. The arrangements are complex, yet the mix provides tremendous musical and temporal space for interplay of the instruments and voices.Saunders provides vocals on four tracks, singing with a soulfulness that stands in relief to the carefully manicured (yet still subtly swinging) instrumental backings. Pondel plays the part of classic jazz guitar accompanist on several tracks, but also breaks out with blues runs for "A Love Thing," and Isley Brothers-styled liquid texture for "Love Philosophy."In addition to ten originals, the album offers two reinvented covers. Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" is warmed with lush, highly resonant backing (including superb tabla runs), and a vocal from Michelle Lewis that brings to mind the sensuality of Astrud Gilberto. Even further afield, Kaïssa Doumbè offers up Leon Russell's "Superstar," reworded in her native Duala, and slowed to a crawl that stretches the melody into something nearly incomparable to the Carpenters' hit single. The essence of the songs remain, but they are completely transformed by their re-arrangements.Although the quiet tone and slower tempos are appealing as background music, there's a great deal more to this work than its exceptional ambience. The subtle, evolving combinations of instruments, and the light, yet persistent, beats cut surprisingly deep grooves, and the tasteful progressions serve up melodies that linger, almost as if suspended in space. This is a fine disc for background listening, but stands equally well up-front, where you can enjoy the nuances of the playing, singing and production."

Soothing To The Soul

G. J Wiener | Westchester, NY USA | 02/03/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Jazzhole's Circle Of The Sun is a relaxing batch of smooth jazz tunes. The sound is a little bit similar to Sade except the percussion beats are more dynamic.What really sets this CD apart from other recordings of this genre is the natural blending between the instruments and the vocals. One can hear the bass and percussion just fine when the guitarist, keyboardists, or horn section solos. No overmodulation at all and a minimum of programming effects. And the soulful vocals both male and female just see a soothing mood.The songs are pretty similar in style and most of them are fairly catchy. Love Philosophy, Ndolo, Enjoy The Silence, Three Days, and A Little Dress For Mary have melodies that stand out on the CD. However, the atmospherics certainly elevate the other tracks to a make the disc a pleasant listen on a lazy afternoon.I certainly hope more natural sounding music like Jazzhole's Circle of the Sun gets noticed in the ever changing landscape of contemporary music. I hope to have the opportunity to listen to more of this fine band's catalogue.Another quick comment before I go. Why in the world is this CD classified under R & B and Dance and DJ while it fails to make the grade in Jazz? There are absolutely no Dance elements to be found on this CD and at least to my ears the jazz tones overshadow the Rhythm and Blues. Amazon readers should aoid the bad misclassification of this CD as this is clearly light smooth Jazz with a touch of R & B."