Love Songs [Enhanced]

Warren Hill | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 26, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B000062R9K
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #165,165 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Truth and Devotion are two great smooth-jazz albums Hill released in the early '90s. They are pristine productions with quality tunes that display his singular sax tone and they made the Canadian a smooth-jazz star. However, his next four releases found him sliding into the tepid murk that many smooth-jazz musicians swim through to make radio programmers happy. Plus, he fell in love with his just-average singing voice and the concept of love, all of which could make smooth-jazz fans leery of a Hill disc filled with love songs. Actually, this is a rebound for Hill, as his choice of cover tunes and arrangements are inspired, particularly the upbeat version of the Chi-Lites' "Oh Girl" and "Fallen," Lauren Wood's classic anthem from the film Pretty Woman. He takes an acceptable Chet Baker-like vocal turn on the first part of "My Funny Valentine" and sings wonderfully on his original bossa nova, "Dancing with You," featuring Marc Antoine on guitar. There is still some sap flying here, but Love Songs delivers on some of the unfulfilled saxophone promise of Hill's early work. --Mark Ruffin

From Jazziz

Perhaps it says a lot about the way Warren Hill's personal life is positively affecting his creative drive when the single most unforgettable tune on the saxman's Narada Jazz debut, Love Life, is a charming and overly sentimental little number about how his baby daughter "Olivia" has changed his perspective on both life and music. Hill's voice is breathy and soft compared to his robust sax playing, but the handful of other vocal tunes here show some positive steps toward becoming a full-scale multi-talented singer/songwriter.

On sax, Hill continues to learn the art of subtlety, as the title track, a largely atmospheric duet with trumpeter Chris Botti, demonstrates. Beyond that, everything else on Love Life reflects Hill's typically powerful, emotive approach. Funk alternates with steamily seductive passages. Unique stylistic variations are tossed in. A horn-punched cover of Grover Washington's classic"Mr. Magic" is punctuated with a rap about Hill's introduction to the music of his late idol. The bouncy "Why You Gotta Worry" shows off Hill's ongoing love for reggae fun, while "Mambo 2000" begins with a steamy Gato Barbieri flavor before leaping into a festive, turbo-charged Latin-brass-meets-rock jam.

--- Jonathan Widran, JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding CD, April 9, 2001

By 

Jeffrey Richter (Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Life (Audio CD)

I am new to Jazz conniseuring(Spelling). I have to say this cd is a really wonderful investment. Warrens Vocals are ok..but do not fit in on the cd.."Sax in the city" is a great mixture of emotional/musical talent.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Warren Hill-Love Life, February 27, 2001

By 

Sean Hill (Greensboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Life (Audio CD)

If you like the wonderful sound of a sax you want this CD? On this CD you'll here Jazz, HipHop, Rock, Soul, Latin and more. To sum it up this kat's music is HOT.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointing "effort", April 12, 2002

By 

Michel de Coninck (Ankara, Turkey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Songs (Audio CD)

I really liked Hill's previous cd and did not hesitate to purchase this new release.

But it's really a big disappointment: hollow, absolutely not imaginative or new (indeed, and even if that was his choice, the cd is full of cover versions of well-known songs), like in most of his recent releases, Hill insists on singing (instead of concentrating on his very good sax playing) and he should leave this to REAL singers.

The choice of the covers lacks any ambition or creativity and, as usual when artists want to do cover versions, they actually make you run to listen to the original versions.

Funnily enough, the only interesting track is the first one, an original song...

This cd sounds like a (good sounding) demo tape of a top 50 cover band.

Please try harder next time!