Customer Reviews

Hip Sway

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

English guitarist Chris Standring's project, "SolarSystem" released prior to "Velvet" is funky for those who like funky acid jazz. Then "Velvet" was released in 1998 and shed a whole new light on smooth jazz style...breaking the mold. Now, after two years, "Hip Sway." This is a SPECTACULAR project. Chris and his band expertly blend the sounds of smooth jazz synthesized keyboards accompanying incredible harmonica and saxophone, a never-ordinary beat, and of course the Chris Standring signature sound coming from Chris' infamous Cremona Sunburst Robert Benedetto custom archtop guitar (with a little echo-plexing at times)...ahhhhh... it's an unforgetable musical experience! And...a bonus...Richard Elliot guests on the title cut! Smooth Jazz LOOK OUT! Standring's got a new one and he's hot!

If you like smooth jazz half as much as I do, this album definitely belongs in your collection. If your plans this evening include kicking back in your favorite reading chair with your feet up and the lights down low, grab a good book and crack open that bottle of Cab Sav Shiraz! Chillin' and Hip Sway: what a great combo.

Hip is defined as something familiar with the latest ideas, styles, etc. Sway is defined as to move or swing to and fro. Combine both terms meanings as "to excite or swing emotions and favorable dulcet sounds." Standring has produced a winner for his sophomore effort. The title track is the epitome of blending acid jazz flavors with soulful motions. The catchy tunes on Hip Sway solidify Standring as a pioneering guitarist of this new decade. "Big Feet Big Shoes" is a cool, hip song which you can envision a carefree individual stepping through downtown amongst a large crowd without any apprehension of time or people engulfed all around, but this person knows the meaning of "cool" by their demeanor and walk. Hip Sway establishes many swinging moods and feelings, which are delectable and vast. Grade: A

Guitarist Chris Standring makes quite an impression with the release of his second full length. The first single and title track "Hip Sway" has deservedly received early recognition for it's unique mix of contemporary jazz style with a 60's retro-soul feel. Influenced by the likes of Cannonball Adderly, Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Smith and early Hancock, Standring integrates himself among the musically elite and develops a style all his own. The mid-tempo track weaves a melodic flow of guitar hooks with the smooth sounds of guest Richard Elliot's tenor sax, giving listeners lots to appreciate from the first listen.

British electric guitarist Chris Standring launched his Stateside career playing edgy fusion in Los Angeles clubs, but he came upon a better path for himself when he met keyboardist Rodney Lee while touring with pop singer Lauren Christy. Blending Standring's bebop nurturing and Charlie Parker/Wes Montgomery influences with Lee's heavy R&B leanings, the two released the dual acid jazz dual Solar System in 1996. Finally confident of where he was headed, Standring found his footing on Velvet and comes into his own by on the far funkier, thickly blues-based and more self-assured Hip Sway (Instinct Records).

Even without the ultra-cool poses and sharp, bleeding image cover photography of Kimo Easterwood, Hip Sway beautifully invokes a sense of old-school jazz sensibilities mixed with the acid-jazz ambience and powerful soul of co-producer Lee. The title track finds Standring echoing his muted Wes-bound melody with wah-wah punch lines, then duetting casually with the eager tenor of Richard Elliot before exploding into an irresistible brassy hook - all over Lee's moody blue synth harmony. "Glamour Girls" features a propelling "Sidewinder"-like vamp under Standring's note-for-note duet with tenorman Dino Soldo, which builds after each verse to a rousing, brassy crescendo; Lee does double duty on this tune, playing a Hammond B-3 solo over the vamp.

Fast forwarding to the present, Standring invokes a bit of ambient master Brian Eno on "What Is Is," as he and Lee exchange distant, distorted melody lines over a spaced-out synth wash as Dave Karasony's train-track drum patter continues to hypnotize. Ditto the gentle hypnosis on a cover of 10cc's mystical "I'm Not In Love"; Standring doesn't do much improvising with the melody, but his alternating guitar tones and the enveloping atmosphere - complete with barely audible synth horns - are just like, well, Velvet.

I was going through my music and happened on Solar System. I still play it regularly after all these years. I looked around to see what Chris Standring and Rodney Lee were up to. I saw that the both have been productive and although both have more recent stuff I decided to try this CD. I like a lot of different types of music but in general what is generally called "smooth jazz" bores me to distraction. I remember David Sanborn and Kenney G saying years ago it is not jazz at all, but instrumental pop music. And that is when they both were funky. I like this album as he is a very good guitar player, Rodney Lee plays very strong keyboards and there are some serious grooves on this recording. The bass player is also kickin'. Several tunes are outright funky. Richard Elliot plays some sax and was able to recall some of his Tower of Power days. I hope Chris has kept the funk alive and not gone the way of so many into the soporific fluff many people seem to want to call jazz.

I stumbled upon Chris Standring's Hip Sway as an Amazon recommendation while scoping out another CD. I listened to a few of his samples & decided to take a chance. Needless to say, I have thoroughly enjoyed this CD. I play it at work ALL the time. Standring's cover of the Bee Gees "How Deep Is Your Love" is very interesting.. Standring made the song his own with his riffs, yet he kept that 70s groove. "What Is Is," sounds like it could have been on a Roy Ayers album from the 70s. Not to mention the title is a tongue in cheek play on President Clinton's scandal with Monica Lewinsky. Believe me there's no scandal with Hip Sway, it's just plain good music.....

English guitarist Chris Standring (who made his mark on Rick Braun's Body & Soul and was named 1998 debut artist of the year by Art Good's JazzTrax) turned heads with his first CD, Velvet, which featured one of the best and most unique smooth jazz songs of recent years with the title track. The CD was classic - no filler - and was packed with hooks galore, great melodies and the kind of guitar sound that drew fans of George Benson, Lee Ritenour, Brian Tarquin, Brian Hughes and others. His latest CD, Hip Sway (Instinct) matches his debut, which set the bar high. No sophomore jinx here. Listen to the killer hook in the title track (enhanced by Richard Elliot's sax) and just try not to be swept away by Standring's lyricism.

Like Hughes and Grant Geissman, Standring has a thing for joyous '60s sounds, mixing groovy with today's acid-jazz sensibility - check out "Glamour Girls," the wah-wah and keyboards in "Big Feet ... Big Shoes" and the Sly Stone funky guitar in "Pins & Needles." There are two covers of classics: "How Deep is Your Love" begins with a Muzak feel, but eventually gets into gear with Standring's riffs and great percussion. "I'm Not in Love" is similar. There are some tasty cuts here, especially "Good Medicine" and "Smile," both so delicious, so catchy, so smooth. "Ultraviolet" is the "Velvet" of this CD, the song that stands apart for its innovation. Standring dubs in an acoustic guitar refrain over his electric playing (very Pat Metheny-like on this cut), while Rodney Lee's fast "drum freaking" propels the song forward. The CD closes with "Georgina," a ballad with drum brushes. Smooth grade: A+

If u're into smooth jazz, acid jazz, jazz-rap, or jazz hip-hop I will say you must recommend this album 2 those that dislike the changing and sounding of contemporary smooth jazz. Yeah I know everybody doesn't like Rap, Pop, or Hip-Hop or whateva to be added into smooth jazz. I don't care but I like Rap and Hip-Hop 'specially Pop too. This is the one I found most interesting since I heard some of his latest cuts off his 3rd CD. This is a classic 2 date 'specially Chris Standring is probably known 2day as the next Ronny Jordan, Grover Washington, Norman Brown, George Duke, George Benson, or whateva. Have gave 2 shots of it at first but now I'm ready 2 go pick it up once it's still available. And 'specially I recommend this along with Groovalicious and Velvet (which I heard recently) and check out Ronny Jordan, Guru, Us3, Tribe Called Quest, The Roots, Digable Planets, The Rebirth of Cool collection, Roy Hargrove, D'Angelo, Common, Brand New Heavies that created this jazz-rap genre I would say.