Customer Reviews

Doin Something

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is Soulive's first release since joining the Blue Note label. I picked up a copy of their last cd "Turn It Out" and was impressed with that release. Soulive is trio featuring guitar, Hammond B-3 organ or piano and drums. Their music is a combination of jazz, funk and rock jamming. I am a huge fan of jazz/blues/funk organ combos and this band is one of the best new bands in this genre. My only problem is that the tight band is augmented by horn sections on some of the cuts. The horn section features Fred Wesley of James Brown/P-Funk fame. Sometimes the large number of horns tend to dilute the groove, if you will. So as a result my favorite cuts on this new disk are the trio cuts. My favorite cut is "Cannonball". Another interesting cut is "Romantic" which is the only track to feature vocals. However, the vocals work with this track and it is one of the best tracks on the disk. The guitarist Eric Krasno reminds me of Charlie Hunter another guitarist on the Blue Note label. In summary this disk is a good initial release for a major label debut. It may serve the band in the future to stick to trio recordings or to add one or two horns instead of a large horn section.

As there seems to be a bit of controversy over the horn section I thought I'd break the tie. First of I play trumpet so there's nothing I like more than some fat brass licks and solos, however, most of the tracks with horn arangements seem a little out of place and choppy if you will. Also in comparison with their first album this one does have a smooth and slightly overproduced sound which seems to be taking them farther and father from their original vibe of "live preformance as the escence of music" (or somthin like that). Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad albumto put on and groove to, it just doesn't have that same raw, in-the-club, jam feel that turn it out did.

Soulive puts the "ooooo" in groove with their first Blue Note release Doin Something, which is a collection of funky, hiphoppin jazzy jams cleanly compressed into well-produced 3-5 minute songs. I question anyone's judgement who criticizes Fred Wesley's horn arrangements on this album. Fred and the other horns launch the rump-shaking grooves to another stratosphere of funkiness. People, people... any funk band sound better with some brass. JB used to say "hapiness is hearing Fred Wesley play the trombone." Well, I say "hapiness is hearing Soulive break it down with Fred Wesley." Romantic, the one track with vocals hits as smooth as can be and is the perfect tune to throw on and kick back to with any fine female.

Having listened to the first two CDs by Soulive extensively I can say that "doin' something" is a definite switch from the raw groove of the previous efforts. The band's new CD offers the slick production you might expect from a Blue Note release and gives fans of Soulive something new to digest in the way of new composition, different tempos, a decidedly different base influence (more pure jazz than funky groove) and a mix of musicians that compliment the new tunes rather well.

Being a Soulive convert due to their fan base in the hippie/jam band scene I was expecting more of the groovy funk feel but was pleasantly surprised that this was a strong studio compilation - the new tunes will most definitely play out for some incredible live renditions. A fan of Soulive or good music in general will most definitely be pleased with this CD.

For a trio this is an incredible effort ! From the first track this CD entices you into their funky blend of music and tunes. The guest horns and sax player also compliment the musicians and fit better than a custome suit. If you like funky innovative jazz than buy this CD you won't be disappointed ! Only flaw is the recording seems to have been compressed digitally and the dynamic range is a little limiting.

Great sound a -little smooth at times though. This is a great trio of young players but the guitarist's "hep-jazz-cat" look is pretty funny.

I bought the CD after seeing their amazing live show, so that is my reference point. Minus the obligatory vocal track this is a pretty good disc. It's hard to capture the funk in a studio, but they did a decent job. Great band.

This is certainly a step forward for Soulive. Most noticeable is that the basic trio have started to add to the funky stew that is their sound. In particular the use of a four piece brass sectionon tracks 2,6 and 10 adds another dimension to their work. Guest Fred Wesley gets to spread out with some great trombone work - however special mention too for Jeremy Pelt the trumpet player who is a great foil to Wesley's thick sound.Bluenote producers have done a great job in getting Alan Evans drum sound well forward in the mix, although as another reviewer has noted the width of the recording dynamic is questionable. Outstanding tracks for me are "Doin Something", "Bridge to'Bama" and "Romantic". It's to be hoped that this album further brings Soulive to public attention, and that they add further sounds to the gumbo with their next recording.In the meantime, get hold of this!

there's a great rounded out groove feel to the trio, no doubt about that. But some of the horn lines, and horns in general seem to overshadow the funky lucidness of this band- why have so many horns?? To me it's like two albums, one with the trio laying it down and really creating some original music, and then there's the horn tracks, which are good (Don't get me wrong), but maybe just a tad cliche and "over produced" sounding. What about just one or maybe two horns, playing sparse lines and a couple solos to change it up every now and then? But overall my toes tap and my head gyrates as i listen.

Well I just had to express how I feel about this Soulive album Doin Something despite the 23 other reviews. For me a person who was on the ground floor of Soulive, being a student at The Berklee School of Music at the same time as Soulive guitarist Eric Krazno & living in the apartment downstairs from him. I got to hear lots of their music in its first stages. In my opinion this is the album that best represents Soulive. Doin Something holds alittle fun for everyone, each song has that head nodding groove but then you hear the melodies which remind me of a cross between bebop & intricate Chick Corea tunes thrown into a Lou Donaldson, James Brown bag. The band is able to fuse all of their many influences on this album from hip hop, house music, soul,R&B & of coarse modern jazz into a sound that is without a doubt their own. Check out the song "One in Seven" and you'll hear the house or "Bridge to Bama" one of my personal favorites and you'll hear alittle of each. This is a record where you can push the play button & let it go till the end. The one vocal track "Romantic" sung by Stephine McCay is also great & fits perfectly along side the instrumentals. Another treat is the appearance of James Brown horn man & arranger Fred Wesley who arranges all the horn parts & plays in the section along with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt & sax man Jaques- Swartz- Bart who gets some good rips in on tenor. The core Soulive trio of Alan Evans, Neal Evans & Eric Krazno are in top flight throughout the entire album. Check this album out & let it Do something to you.