Roy Ayers - Evolution Polydor Anthology (31 tracks) +Album Reviews

To be properly introduced to Roy Ayers, get this CD.

06/29/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I had knowledge of some of Roy's music, but I had no idea who he was. Because I am in my mid-twenties, I hadn't reallt heard about Roy Ayers. About 3 years ago while in college I heard the song 'Set me Free' and it immediatley soothed my soul, sparked my interest and jolted my curiosity. I then had to find out who this was. Before purchasing the CD "Naste", I saw Roy at the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans and was completley captivated. I then knew I had to buy the CD to learn more. The Anthology is filled with tunes and lyrics that evolve your thought processes and make you want to get up and dance. Anyone who is unfamiliar with the struggle of the 60's and 70's is forced to acknowledge its presence throughout this album in all of the lyrics. Some examples are "Pretty Brown Skin", "Destination Motherland", and "The Third Eye". The music of Roy Ayers is made up of many different aspects, I have only been introduced to a few. I am honored and priviledged to have discovered such a musician. I am learning more and more as I travel on my journey through his mind."

Vibalicious!!

Honey | Heaven | 08/27/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This a proper retrospective of a stellar career! And it isn't over yet! He's still playing, recording, touring and moving his audience, like always. This great music has even recruited quite a few of the younger generation, a testament to his talent!

Polydor did a hell of a job compiling and choosing the perfect songs for this project. For one can only imagine what it must've been like to select and choose what would be included, especially since Roy has so many terrific songs. I guess they settled on a little dash of everything, from the very funky, the very soft, the very electric and the downright jazzy!

Roy Ayers is the man, always has been and always will be..he's the cream of the crop and at the top of the heap, with tasty songs like "Running Away, Searchin', Freaky Deaky to putting his spin on the classic "You Send Me," which by the way, runs a full (8) plus minutes! This set also includes the often sampled: Everybody Loves the Sunshine! Another song draped in greatness! Whew! They just don't do it like this anymore. This is truly a best of and some...

Enjoy Roy...and given the opportunity, rush to see him perform Live. It's a treat for the soul and spirit. He is one of the few artist that I know (ala Maze f/Frankie Beverly) that can still sell out a show, every single time out! He's definitely, Mr. Consistency!

One can never go wrong with Mr. Ayers in their collection.

"

This Is Essential

M. Conklin | Illinois, USA | 07/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"two cds full of roy ayers music should be enough to make any funky music fan happy, but the good folks at polydor went over the top with this one. these cds span a huge part of his recording career (even the often forgotten, yet enjoyable 1980s tracks) and they filled these cds with as much music as they possibly could - 31 tracks, 2 hours and 34 minutes of music. what's more is that someone even knew what the good tracks were. r&b, funk, soul and jazz predominate his music, and much of it is filled with his excellent vibraphone playing and equally soaked in his smooth singing (he has killer back-up singers too). his popular duets with the likes of guru - which i personally never flipped for - aren't on here, but that makes it all the better in my opinion. it's all roy ayers in the spotlight."

EVOLUTION OF A VIBES MASTER

Patrick Frierson | 11/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Roy Ayers journey to legendary recognition is a unusual one for an artist who's creative heyday was in the 70's. Throughout that decade Roy Ayers and his backing group Ubiquity produced a number of outstanding songs touching on every style from early jazz-funk to disco. In spite of the solid quality of his material, He wasn't able to compete with heavy hitters like Miles, Herbie, and Isaac Hayes and he was only able to acquire a cult following. Fast forward to the hip hop generation of the 90's and you hear bits and pieces of his music. If you look at the album credits from Brand Nubian, Mary J Blige, and A tribe Called Quest, you'll most likely see his name as a sampling source. Thanks to crate diggers and to the acid jazz movement of the 90's, Mr. Ayers began receiving the respect that was long overdued. He probrably became more popular in the 90's than he was in the 70's.

Thanks to his newly found fame at the time, Polydor chose to compile this two disc retrospective of his career. I can't exactly call this retro since this music is transcendant beyond the time it was released and still sounds ahead of the clock in 2007. One of the things that sepererates Roy Ayers from his contemporaries is his ability to flow from a varity of styles with the violatile ease of the the four seasons. What's even more amazing is how his music remains cohesive rather he's in the belly rubbin mode or a saturday night mode. Not to mention that this music is some of the most soulful R&B/ jazz ever recorded since he emphasis the emotional depth of R&B along with the intellectual improvisation of classic jazz.

Rather he has the higher power on his mind "He's a Superstar" or the Motherland "Red Black and Green" Mr. Ayers comes through with the poignant sincerity that can touch you deeply. His flagship slow jams are also present " Everybody loves the Sunshine" and "Searching". The former paints a wram picture of city people enjoying the fresh air as they're going to work, opening up grocery stores, fruitstands, little boys playing football in the streets and little girls picking flowers and playing hide and seek. It's the ultimate song of ordinary people enjoying life without any worries. The latter song makes soul searching a little easier with it's subtle sax riff and relaxed keyboards in the background.

Mr. Ayers is able to hold it down in the clubs with "Running Away" , "Freaky Deaky", "Turn me Loose". and even when he gets completely discofied on "Get on up, Get on Down" and " Heat on the Beat" he infuse so much emotion that makes it listenable. and "Des nude Soul" and "Change up the Groove" would sound at home on any Pam Grier flick from the 70's (along with his soundtrack for "Coffy").

Pretty much, the whole anthology is filler free. While many of the concepts for these songs are far from original, Mr. Ayers stark arrangements and performance on the vibes are able to take these conventional concepts and utrn it into a style that sounds like no other. This eclectic set is essential for any crate digger and R&B purists. Like other pieces of timeless music, this "Evolution" has no omega."

The Freaky Deaky--Funky Donkey! Oh! Man!

Mark A. Gilliam | The ATL | 06/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The first time I saw Roy Ayers Live was when I was a HS Freshman and snuck into Mansfield State College in Mansfield, PA now known as Mansfield University. He started the show off with The Freaky Deaky--and I lost my mind. There is only one Roy Ayers---no one can ever dulicate Roy--ever. Years later I had the chance to run into Roy again, this time in my 30's and met the brotha and told him of my experience---being Roy he just laughed and said "Thanks".

If you are a real Roy Ayers Fan--this is a much have CD. Runnin Away---When I see you- Love will bring us back together---Don't stop the feeling---all powerful--guaranteed to put you in a frenzy

as you will wear the letters off the CD.

Don't pass this on this one!"

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