Customer Reviews

Moon Bossa

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

 

 

This is the domestic release of Julie Dexter & Khari Simmon's "Moon Bossa" cd. The feature was actually out in September or August of 2006 in Europe and Japan, which is something else considering that I believe both of them currently consider Atlanta home! Khari Simmons is a member of the nu-soul group "Jiva", while Julie Dexter's a very talented soul singer herself having released a few albums on her own. She's also featured with quite a few different DJ's and producers, like Thomas Naim (of French duo Tom & Joy and Limbo Experience) and various London producers. Khari seemed to be focused on this sound, as Jiva's album "Sun & Moon" had several elements of bossa influences to it.

I think this is a great cd. Mind you, it's not Brazilian... there's a tribute song to Antonio Carlos Jobim, and there is bossa but it's interpreted with a more US soul vibe. That's nothing particularly new - bossa's not just limited to Brasil, some may even argue of it being so influential in Italy as well. Anyways, after owning it for quite a while, I can honestly say that it's one that really blew me away initially. The CD starts out with the title track and Julie's voice and the arrangement give you a great sense of what to expect throughout the album. Her voice is so soft and so feminine... lovely. That's followed up with "My Baby Don't Love Me", which seems to be more contemporary than most of the other songs on the album... almost like a 'safe song'. It's nice, but not quite as impressive as the more daring works. Another good track is "Dove", although that song tends to actually wan just a bit. But I think the real gems on this album are "Sea & Sky", "Venusian" and a nice rendition to the classic 'Wave'. What's neat about Sea & Sky to me is the cool vibraphone and gentle-ness in the bossa. It has a really innocent feel in a dark yet free sort of way. Venusian's a great song wit ha good build to it, and "Wave" features Alex Lattimore, who's no stranger to Khari Simmons as he's featured in loads of works of his and with Jiva. There are a few remixes towards the end of the album, one of which is done by Incognito, but the highlight there was the remake to "Venusian". Finally, the piano reprise of "Moon Bossa" is fantastic, albeit sad, somehow.

I like this album and certainly recommend it. When I first picked it up, I gave it five stars, so why the four stars now? Perhaps I played it out (odd for me), but I found myself skipping a few of the tracks in the album, and some of the tracks seemed, as strange as this will sound, syrupy, like "Salt Sea" and "Promises", which I didn't really care for. Also, while Sea & Sky was one of the highlights to me, the recording of it was a little suspect in the beginning of the song. But overall this was a terrific effort with some sweet tracks to it. If you do like this, you'll also want to check out Jiva's feature album, Donnie's album and Khari Simmons "Soul Com Bossa" cd, although that one, at least I think, was a Japanese import release. It was very much in the mold of this album and has a near identical approach and sound - Julie Dexter even features on one of the tracks there. You might also love "The Rebirth" as well, and you may like Sergio Mendes album which he did with The Black Eyed Peas.

Julie Dexter and Khari Simmons new album is called "Moon Bossa". The fourteen tracks on the album includes a remix of "Fooled by a smile" by Incognito, a remix of the track "Venusian" and a remix of "The Dove" by Jiva. Jiva is the band of Atlanta based bass player and producer Khari Simmons. Earlier this year the Jiva "Sun and Moon" album was released in the UK.
The sound of the big band comes back on a track like "The Dove" with those sweet horns. It's a kind of Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass feeling you get listening to this song. Another band that you'll remember when listening to "Moon Bossa" is the great "Brasil 66" of Sergio Mendes. Khari is a lover of "bossa nova" and has mixed this Brasilian jazz and soul sound in all it's variety with contemporay music.

As the result of this we hear a beautiful cover of Swing Out Sister's "Fooled by a smile" sung by Julie Dexter with that sweet honey voice. She sings a lovely duet too with Alex Lattimore where she takes us high on a crystal clear "Wave" while Alex is reaching for the rich depth. On the remix of "Dove" you'd like to drink a caipirihna and dance whether your on the beach or in da club. "What Do I Do" is a kind of synhtizers soul song that takes you into space. It's starts slow and evolves into a rocking melody.

The album has a happy and sunny feel but at the same time it takes you into that jazzy atmosphere that we know from the late night hours. Earlier the sweet horns were mentioned but the guitars and piano on "Moon Bossa" are a special flavour too for music lovers.

Julie Dexter is an artist from Birmingham, England (go Villa!) while Khari Simmons is an artist that I believe hails from Atlanta, Ga. There's been quite the new-soul explosion in Atlanta scene and this is one of those fantastic new projects that's come to life. For a bit more of Julie Dexter, I can't say that much except I think she has 3 previous albums (Conscious is fantastic) and I first really heard her when she did a song with Thomas Naim (of Tom & Joyce or now "Tom & Joy" - a group with his cousin, Joyce Hoze) on the second Bossa Tres Jazz album. Khari Simmons is a huge part of the Atlanta group called "Jiva", who have put out a few singles over the past couple of years and one full-length production. That album is also a wonderful piece.

But let's focus on this one - a terrific marriage of bossa and neo-soul. It's the direction Khari Simmons seems to be focused on right now along with some other artists that've dabled in it at Giant Step (remember Donnie's "Do You Know?"). The album starts out wonderfully with a light and innocent vocal on the title track. Then the tempo picks up a little with "My Baby Don't Love Me" before falling back into a sweet, old-school sound with "Salt Sea". "Dove" is neat - layered vocals over the slow and easy rythm but before that, you've got a nice more Brazilian sounding beat in "Venusian". Of the songs on this album, however, three really stuck out to me. Oddly, it's the second shortest song, "Sea and Sky". The track is pretty cool. Vibraphone, it waves in and out, you have quick vocals with an easy approach to the music and the whistling is a nice touch! I also dug the piano outro to "Moon Bossa" too... it really captures a mood and captures a moment, doing a terrific job at summing up the outstanding album. Finally, I liked their rendition of "Fooled By a Smile" too.

This is a fantastic album and I've really been enjoying it, coming dangerously close to playing it out. You've also got some nice remixes on this album in addition to the tracks I mentioned and then some! It's hard to come up with downers on this one so I won't try. If you like this, check out Jiva's album, maybe work by Fertile Ground, work from Incognito too and you absolutely MUST get your hands on The Rebirth's album titled "This Journey In". Also, with this style, you might like Khari Simmons other project titled "Soul Com Bossa" which continues in the same mold as this work here - even has tracks with Alex Lattimore (sang on this albums version of Antonio Carlos Jobim's classic "Wave") and Jiva remixes.

I was as smitten by this project as the prior reviewer. But it took me a little bit longer to write about it and he beat me to the punch, lol.

It was a well-written review and I must say I agree with everything he said about MOON BOSSA, so I won't repeat it here.

Just know that this CD is one of the best of 2006, bar none. I really, really hope that a MOON BOSSA II is in the works. A vibe like this from young people making exceptionally good authentic music bears repeating.

Julie Dexter has such a unique "Quiet Storm" flava in her music. This CD has some great musical elements throughout it. An on point, multi-cultural treat with all the Bossa Nova and Neo Soul mixed with some Acid Jazz. I love the vocal arrangements. The layering and blending of Julie's voice is beautifully presented. Glad the price dropped a bit so I could finally afford this import. It is on my current playlist. Given the lack of imaginative music these days, this CD will remain on my playlist indefinitely.

She always keep me affected. Her energy portrayed in this project is illuminating and I dig it. You know only listen, tap, but think.