Customer Reviews

Brighter Day

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a fantastic return to form for Ronny Jordan. What the reviewer above me fails to grasp is the fact that musical tastes are changing and that Ronny Jordan is merely adapting to this change. Acid jazz is dead. Look around: The Talking Loud label - the pioneers of acid jazz - are moving away from this sound and instead going for the hip-hop/R&B market; Incognito now concentrate on making albums that are Brit-funk. Ronny could not have made another acid jazz album. This is a contemporary jazz album which incorporates many strains of jazz: he is not attempting to be another George Benson like the incredibly talented, yet conservative Norman Brown. Tracks like "Aftermath" and "Mackin" are hip-hop influenced with some trip-hop thrown in for good measure. His interpretations of "Why" and "Mystic Voyage" are up to his usual high standard when dealing with covers. Towards the end of the album, Ronny tackles latin jazz with great success - "Mambo Inn" and "Rio" are excellent. Yet, amongst all this fusion of sounds, he finds the time to create "5/8 In Flow," which is pure jazz with one of the best drummers around, Jeff "Tain" Watts. This is what makes Ronny Jordan such a unique talent - few other artists are able to make the switch fusion to straight-ahead jazz with such ease. Trust me, there is no other guitarist around who is on a par with Ronny Jordan. When are Americans going to take notice of this guy. He is the true successor to Wes Montgomerey.

I've been a huge Ronny Jordan since the release of his classic debut "The Antidote" in 1992 and have eagerly anticipated every new recording he has produced since. This CD in a move for Ronny into new styles (latin, world, straight ahead jazz) while still retaining the beautiful tone, improvisation, sense of melody and streetwise sensibility that we have come to expect from him. The factor that makes Ronny standout from the rest of the guitarists in contemporary jazz is that he is not locked into a sound or market niche. The variety of styles is reflected in the standout Victor Feldman tune, New Delhi, featuring some excellent acoustic guitar and indian influence. I love the trio of latin tunes (Two Worlds, Mambo Inn, Rio) and the duet with Roy Ayers on Mystic Voyage. A word of warning - don't get put off by the slow start to this recording (the 1st 2 tracks A Bright Day and Aftermath are a bit uninspiring). If you're thinking of purchasing this CD, DO IT!

The guy below wouldn't know a "chop" if it hit him in the head... About 3 minutes or so into Mackin' are some of the sweetest guitar chops on the planet. I live for tasty "chops", they're what jazz is all about. Take the thick, smooth brown gravy provided by the bass line in this tune, add some go-go (as distinguished from hip-hop), and mama's gonna have to pry me from the table. That's all I'm talkin 'bout.

I think english jazz has a tight,funky groove. I love R.Jordan and appreciate anything he puts out, I just wish he would tour more in the U.S.A. A BRIGHTER DAY once again pleases my driving experience along with small get togethers. Everyone who comes to my parties enjoys the UK way of grooving! Cats like R.Jordan,Chris Standring,and Courtney Pine fulfill my musical taste and can't seem to get enough. Please R.J. keep the grooves coming and I cannot wait to see you in concert. You got my vote!

I appreciate Ronny Jordan's music because I can sense his growth and development as a artist with each CD. There are surprises throughout this disc and his hip-hop tinged grooves are his best to date. "Rio" is one of my favorite songs, as the hook is infectious and this song makes it clear that he has taken his acoustic guitar work to another level. Songs such as "Mackin" and "A Brighter Day" prove that he can effortlessly blend hip-hop and jazz. While the merging of these two styles has been attempted by numerous artists, very few artists, like The Roots, Ronny Jordan and Liquid Soul, have been successful in their attempts. Smooth jazz has been transformed into elevator music recently, but Ronny Jordan has proven that their are artists who can break through the boundaries of their music category. I look forward to many more brighter days from Ronny Jordan!

Ronny Jordan's newest CD effort lands somewhere short of perfection, but it doesn't fall flat either, a 3.5 star effort. Nimble fingers are always the rule with Jordan and I really appreciate the effort! My favorites are: A Brighter Day / New Delhi / Mackin' (which could go on FOREVER) and Mystic Voyage with Roy Ayers! Very nice effort, worth a listen..

I don't own any other Ronny Jordan albums, but I know that he is/was supposed to be on a R&B/acid jazz type vibe. This album, I assume, is a lil' more smooth-jazzy than his previous efforts. I had heard a couple of his old songs and a couple of new ones from the new album and had to get "A Brighter Day." Although some of the songs trail on a lil' too long (i.e. "Mackin'" and "A Brighter Day (Remix)" w/ Mos Def) Ronny shows that he has an acute ear for melody. Everything grabs you; especially the latin songs, which are done pretty well. I love "Two Worlds", "Mambo Inn", and "Rio." And "New Dehli" also rules. "Seeing Is Beleiving" is quite original. I like it. The last song, "5/8 In Flow" has a classic jazz feel to it. This album is good the whole way through with the exception of one song... "Why". It's mainly the vocals/lyrics that irk me on that one, but the music is okay. Besides that one lil' song, RJ is still one of the best out there when it comes to guitar-playing. If you like him, you should check out Norman Brown.

With his latest effort, Jordan, in my opinion, establishes himself as one of (if not) the premier jazz guitarist in the business. As alluded to in the Amazon review, the hard core jazz hip-hop and acid jazz fans may be a wee bit disappointed; however, if you appreciate smooth melodic grooves, versatile arrangements and a album where each selection is distinctive from the next, then you will love a "Brighter Day". This guy can really play, and whith his effort, he demonstrates that he can play any genre'. While "After Hours" will always be Jordan's signature effort and a cult classic, "Brighter Day" sets the standard for other guitarists in the business to emulate.

Well I have many, many CD's but never have written a review on Amazon. Since it's been a few years in my library, I though I would offer some feedback. I will just say this, it is cool. If you like jazz, funk, with a little smooth hip-hop flavor mixed in, this is it. The grooves are hypnotic and infectious. It will get you. I just can't seem to get this out of my CD player for any prolonged period! It's a little Wes Montgomery, a little of contemporary Miles, a little hip-hop influence, melodic voice paintings, rhythmic upright Bass, man it just grooves. OK, my first review, just because this CD won't go away from my players, and that is saying something with my collection of CD's.

Ronny Jordan is mainly a jazz musician, an excellent guitar player with a mature, tastily language, a personal sound that distinguishes himself from other guitarists of the contemporary jazz scene. He can play soft, acid, bluesy, using Wes- Montgomery style,... he is always himself, pertinent... this is not easy!. I noted his talent from the first album "The antidote" (1992), what impressed me was the contrast between the hip -hop, electronic loops he used and his smooth sound, his simply themes and his groovy solos... this is the acid-jazz form I prefer. What I appreciate is that he's coming directly from the contemporary influences (soul, hip-hop, black, funky, rap....), with a strong jazz-classic base. Like every good artist, his in evolution, in search of new situations and atmospheres, although this may disappoint someone, I think this is positive. To my opinion this album mainly marks RJ's turn to a music which is formally better than the one of his previous records: good arrangements, good musicians, good choice of the tracks....all songs of the CD are ok! Ronny switches to a more smoothed, American sound, but not loosing his "British" roots!! My favourite tunes: "New Delhi" has an involving, exotic atmosphere and is a tribute to great British musician/composer Victor Feldman, "Rio" has an amazing theme, "Mackin" is acid and groovy. This CD is substantially a good work, I suggest to listen to it many times, when relaxing at home