In November Sunlight (featuring Dave Matthews, LeRoi Moore and Tim Reynolds)

Soko | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (December 17, 1996)
• Original Release Date: December 17, 1996
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Breezeway
• ASIN: B00000K1RV
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,882 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Half Sleep (the river dreams) (featured guest: Darrell Rose, percussion)

2. Your Steps Alone (featured guest: LeRoi Moore, saxophone)

3. Coast to Coast (featured guest: LeRoi Moore, saxophone)

4. In November Sunlight (featured guest: LeRoi Moore, saxophone)

5. Jiriki (featured guests: Dave Matthews, voice, LeRoi Moore, saxophone, and Tim Reynolds, guitar)

6. Energy Change (featured guest: LeRoi Moore, saxophone)

7. Body Home

8. Lullaby for E

Editorial Reviews

"In November Sunlight: 'nuff said" By Eric Hoover, C-Ville Weekly

Remember losing interest during math class in high school? While staring out the window, thoughts could float miles away from your immediate surroundings like dust on the wind. Soko's first CD release captures that moment, when a journey away from convention seems like the best idea.

That's not to say the music here is merely a daydream soundtrack. In November Sunlight, in fact, is a strong blend of imaginative melodies and arrangements worthy of some absorption - you just might have to sit down and visualize.

From "Half Sleep," which glides like a twilight swim along the river, to "Lullaby for E," Soko allows intricate tunes to develop around a solid rhythmic core. In most songs, the layers of sound evolve and change without leaving the bass and percussion pulse behind.

Ross and Gilmore have been performing as a rhythm section for 18 years, which accounts for the steady, solid sounds that guide the CD. Drums charge beneath the verses of "Coast to Coast" and build up a musical storm in "Jiriki" (yes, that is Dave Matthews crooning in the background).

If you've never really paid attention to bass playing, let Ross guide you through this disc with hooks that range from subtle to surprising. Much like Chapman-sticker Greg Howard's latest CD, Sol, Soko's release shows evidence of restraint as many tracks flair up and then pull back.

By the time Sunlight trails off, Sokolowski's piano notes have crystalized around songs that hang together with the odd delicacy of free-verse poems. "Body Home," which is all mixed up in light/dark, piano/bass contrasts, comes closest to the band's live energy. Sokolowski's colorful keyboards carry each of these tunes, but, unlike some virtuoso outings, the piano sounds don't drown out the overall group effort. DMB's Leroi Moore saxes his way into five tracks, lending some notes to "Your Steps Alone," which sounds like a golden tribute to some other, be it human or higher power.

Although Dave Matthews, his guitarist, Tim Reynolds and saxophonist Leroi Moore all appear on Soko's new release, In November Sunlight (Breezeway Records, 0313); this is, by far, not a Dave Matthews Band album. November Sunlight holds all the instrumental power and potential DMB brings to the stage, but Soko's grooving is vitally different. Combining jazz rhythms, lyrical piano melodies and funky bass lines with Moore's sweetly smooth saxophone (it's here you can hear the DMB influence), this is the type of album you will listen to with your eyes closed, simply floating on the music. Pianist and longtime Deadhead Michael Sokolowski, after whom the band is named, penned all of the album's eight tracks. The second cut, Your Steps Alone, is of particular interest as Sokolowski's personal dedication to the memory of Jerry Garcia. The entire album is infused with a healthy dose of jamming excitement.

Product Description

Lyrical piano melodies and powerful rhythms characterize this debut album of original music from Michael Sokolowski, Houston Ross, and John Gilmore. Guest artists include Dave Matthews, Leroi Moore, and Tim Reynolds of Dave Matthews Band association.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Dave would do if he could..., July 9, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In November Sunlight (featuring Dave Matthews, LeRoi Moore and Tim Reynolds) (Audio CD)

Upon visiting Amazon.com one day, one of my recommendations had read " Soko: In November Sunlight." I thought to myself, why would they recommend that? I've never heard of Soko before. But I clicked anyway, and read the many reviews. Now, I love DMB, and I love Jazz, so I figured what the heck. So, today I received it in the mail. After my first listen, I fell in love. I just popped it in and sat back and let it play. Talk about relaxation. One of the reviews I read said that the CD "lacked punch." WHAT? Talk about restraint. This CD has so many near climaxes that just about when you're going to burst, they pull back.

My thoughts are that this is exactly what Dave Matthews would be doing if he could. Anyone who's seen him in concert knows how much he loves to just sit back and jam for 15-20 minutes at a time. I'm sure Dave would love to put a CD like this out, but his so called fans would call him a sellout like they did on "Everyday."

No, this isn't a DMB CD. But, if you have any taste in music, you should own this CD. Phenomenal is the only word that sums it up.

So, pop it in, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relaxing, smooth, and all too enjoyable, March 25, 2004

By 

D. Gimbel (Orlando, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In November Sunlight (featuring Dave Matthews, LeRoi Moore and Tim Reynolds) (Audio CD)

How can one dislike the flowing manner of these amazing musicians? If you are a true fan of jazz then this record is for you. If you're a mainsteam Davehead, then well, maybe you should start off your jazz exploration with something a little more mainstream. Trust me, I am a huge DMB supporter, but if in buying this record I wasn't really anticipating Dave's vocals or even Roi's eloquant sax riffs. I bought it for the music. You should do the same.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Relaxing and simple, and puts you in a good mood, February 6, 2001

By 

Jared D. O'Connell (CT, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In November Sunlight (featuring Dave Matthews, LeRoi Moore and Tim Reynolds) (Audio CD)

The songs on In November Sunlight are very relaxing, and so when in the mood to listen to it, you also get brough into a state of happiness. Very good CD, especially with the addition of Matthews' vocals on Jiriki. I was also impressed with LeRoi' s saxaphone and Tim Reynolds guitar. However, I was most impressed by the textured piano sounds.