Customer Reviews

Krazy Love

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On this, Luba Mason's sophomore c.d., Ms. Mason adopts a decidedly Brazilian mode. It's tempting to call this a "gabacha does saudade" album (to mix cultural metaphors), except: a) Such albums generally consist of covers of songs by Jobim, Lins, et. al. Most of the cuts on this c.d. are originals (even "From Me to You," which is not the Lennon-McCartney song), except Pedro Caetano's "E Com Esse Que Eu Vou" ( a vocal duet with Ms. Mason's husband, Ruben Blades) and Chico Barque's "Olhos Nos Olhos"; b) With the exception of the Barque cover, there is precious little "saudade" on this c.d. Most of the cuts are sunny, at least in feel, and one ("Gorgeous Fool") actually is pretty funny. All in all, the operative word for this disc is "pleasant." And it's nice to hear Hubert Laws again, bringing back pleasant memories of all those great C.T.I. recordings of the 1970's.

This album should play well on any smooth jazz radio station in the country. Ms. Mason has a nice, strong voice and the arrangements are solidly, professionally done. Ms. Mason and Renato Neto, the keyboardist, have done a nice job in producing this disc. If you are into smooth jazz, I recommend this disc. If you are not, give it a listen anyway and see what you think. RC

With a backing band that includes the Yellowjackets' bassist Jimmy Haslip, Mason, the wife of South American megastar Ruben Blades, cuts a sophisticated Brazilian rug for a living room cocktail hour. Let the title track sway away any hesitations. Swoon to the summer-place space of "A Summer Night." Sure, it's schmaltzy, but indulge yourself. The mood is marred only by the feather-headed lyrics of "Gorgeous Fool," in which the narrator makes excuses for her klutz of a paramour who can't even remember her name.