Circle of the Sun

Jazzhole | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 1, 2002)
• Original Release Date: November 1, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Beave Music
• ASIN: B0000719TH
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #398,765 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Love Philosophy

2. Three Days

3. Ndolo

4. Um Ritmo No Meu Sono

5. Enjoy the Silence

6. Who Do You Love?

7. A Little Dress for Mary

8. Circle of the Sun

9. Winter's Melting

10. A Love Thing

11. Horn Interlude

12. Superstar

Editorial Reviews

Circle of the Sun, Jazzhole’s fourth studio recording, finds founding members Warren Rosenstein, John Pondel and Marlon Saunders exploring the new hybridity of modern urban soul: a sound that incorporates downtempo grooves and acoustic R&B, with hints of ambient electronica and bossa nova. As much a neo-soul as a nu-jazz release, Circle of the Sun benefits from performances by several new guests: tabla player Naren Budhakar; vocalist and Cameroon-native Kaïssa Doumbè (Manu Dibango, Jean-Michel Jarre, Salif Keita); and percussion star Daniel Sadownick (Me’Shell Ndegeocello, Maxwell, Screaming Headless Torsos). Refreshingly, Jazzhole remains an evolving collective of many of New York’s most accomplished live and studio musicians.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take a modern, downtempo journey with great musicians, January 25, 2003

By 

Serena Alves (New York + Brasil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circle of the Sun (Audio CD)

What a discovery! This CD is probably one of the best of 2003 for its superb songwriting and modern yet eclectic sound. Finally, a CD that integrates a modern production style with some real musical substance and craftsmanship. Don't be confused by the band's name (and acid jazz pedigree): the music is not jazz, but a sort of neo-soul meets nu-jazz sound one could only find in New York. Refreshingly, these singers can REALLY SING, and there is not even one DJ in this group. "Circle of the Sun" is not just a bunch of samples over a drumbeat - it lies somewhere in between Maxwell-style neo-soul and a Morcheeba type of downtempo dance, and will surely satisfy both audiences, and maybe even create some new Jazzhole fans.

There is a new sophistication to the band's sound on this album, and world music influences predominate: An African vocalist named Kaïssa Doumbè steals the show on three tracks, plus there is a mesmerizing (and unlikely) Tabla rendition of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence", while a Bossa Nova-ish tempo sets the pace. Fans of Nitin Sawhney, Youssou N'Dour , Bebel Gilberto, and maybe even Sade might want to check this out.

This CD is a beautiful hybrid of modern sounds and styles that you could play at any time of day or night. Just relax and soak in the vibe.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sophisticated mix of jazz, soul, ambient and world flavors, February 12, 2003

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Circle of the Sun (Audio CD)

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.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Soothing To The Soul, February 2, 2003

By 

G. J Wiener (Westchester, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Circle of the Sun (Audio CD)

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.