Detroit Experiment [Import]

The Detroit Experiment | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 24, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Rykodisc UK
• ASIN: B000087D7Y
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,461 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Space Odyssey

2. Think Twice

3. Revelation

4. Baby Needs New Shoes

5. There Is a God

6. Church

7. Enterluud

8. Vernors

9. Too High

10. Highest

11. Midnight at the Twenty Grand

12. A Taste of Tribe

13. The Way We Make Music

14. Revelation Reprise

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In this talent-packed project, a varied cast of Detroit players were thrown into a studio for a few days to see what would happen. Produced by techno pioneer Carl Craig, the lineup includes jazz heavies (reedist Bennie Maupin, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, pianist Geri Allen, and violin sensation Regina Carter), Motown session players (guitarist Percy Hughes and drummer Ron Otis), and various hip-hop and electronic people. The result is a tidy musical package crammed with rich ambient textures, percolating rhythms (stellar percussionist Francisco Mora sees to that), and strong grooves that still leave enough room for the jazz folk to solo comfortably. Ranging from the smooth-jazz-like "Revelation" to the interstellar bop of "Space Odyssey" to the outright hip-hop of "The Way We Make Music" to a surreal reading of Stevie Wonder's "Too High," the 14 tracks here have a little something for everyone, without sacrificing quality. Rarely has this new electro-jazz-hip-hop hybrid had such soul, but what else would you expect from Detroit? --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

The roots of the Detroit sound were brought back to the future by DJ/producer Carl Craig, Philadelphia Experiment producer Aaron Luis Levinson, and hip hop producer Karriem Riggins, who together recorded the band over a period of five days at the legendary White Room Studio in downtown Detroit. The result are spellbinding, mind-blowing, and a true testament to the musical legacy of Detroit.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I like this one - a lot, September 4, 2003

By 

Stephen Sawyer (Livonia, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Detroit Experiment (Audio CD)

I like surprises. I like things that zig and zag in unexpected but pleasant ways. I'm not a purist. I think that mixing contrasting elements lends interest and excitement.

I'm not a big jazz fan, but I'm finding that if you give jazz a good groove, I like it.

All this is background for my opinion that this is an outstanding collection. Each piece stands on it's own, contrasts nicely with the other entries without any (to me) jarring discordancies, and internally, nicely contrasts the sophistication of jazz compositional elements with more contemporary rhythmic and production influences in varying degrees; some tracks the jazz influence predominates, on others the hip-hop or techno influences come to the fore.

I agree with another reviewer that the Amp Fiddler track sounds like "Stevie Wonder on a ... drug trip", but to be honest, it's the kind of zig or zag that I think makes this CD very entertaining and enjoyable.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I missed it, January 26, 2004

By 

R. warren "spuuudie" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Detroit Experiment (Audio CD)

I saw this CD in the store and I kept looking at it. I had previously purchased the Philadelphia Experiment CD and I loved it. I do not know what made me put this CD back. Now after hearing for the first time I think Detroit is definitely on the map with this one. Regina Carter is just smooth. This is just a smooth jazzy groovy album. I love it. If you like jazz, be bop, hip hop then this is it. You just got to have this one.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It was good, not great, just good, May 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Detroit Experiment (Audio CD)

My only problem with this record is that it is just not close to being as good as the original "Experiment" in Philadelphia. On this record it is clear that those who should have had the most influence with the record did not. The all to present techo in the record in my mind brings the entire cd down. This album easily could have been as good or better than the original, given the talent present, however in my mind it falls sadly short.