Customer Reviews

Other Directions

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

 

 

So you might want to take note. This is a different cd than "Jet Sounds" from back in 2000, in that it's not the same sort of catchy, up-beat bossa sound. If you're looking for the sound of "Forma 2000" or "Arabesque" or "Bossa Per Due", you won't find it on this album. Having said that, if you're a fan of Schema records and have been following several of the musicians they feature, like Gerardo Frisina, Soulstance, Rosalia De Souza and maybe even S-Tone Inc., this cd shouldn't surprise you that much. I say that because Schema's been noticeably going in a 'rearword' position (ha!) and the sound's evolved - just check Frisina's "Hi Note" for example. They've gone more in the mold of some quality, more jazzed up flavored tracks and feels, utilizing real musicians and exploring a fuller, richer musical sound.

This is no exception - although being released in conjunction with Blue Note records should've been the ultimate hint! "Sea and Moon" starts the cd well and from then on, you get the vibe. It's relaxed, mature and has a lazy singing. "Wanin' Moon" follows up with some key sax and piano solos along with the wonderful voice of Bebe Segue. Next up is "Nefertiti", which you could've previewed on "Freedom Jazz Dance" (the final clue as to Schema's new direction), which features the sultry whispy voice of Cristina Zavalloni (check her feature album!). Other friends of the label include Gianluca Patrella with the trombone and there are more. A few more stand-out tracks... I dig the swing in "Kind of Sunshine" and that beat... nice stuff. You pop that song in, the bongos start kickin in and you feel the double bass and trumpet solos - this is a song made for stylin' in the city.

All in all, I think this is a very very good cd. It really is a different direction from "Jet Sounds" but I think it's a rather positive testament to Nicola Conte's overall musical knowledge, background and leadership. Don't worry - if you still want to hear some of that bossa twinge ala Jet Sounds, there are loads and loads of remixes that Nicola Conte's done that you'll dig - like "Tic-Tac" by Maxwell implosion, "Elevator" by Jaffa and who can forget Rosalia De Souza's "Garota Moderna"? Likewise, remixes that hinted that this was the direction he was going on - Infracom's "Quiet Night", "Meu Samba" by Eli Goulart, "I Sing This Song Just for You" by Xaver Fischer Trio, and several others. And... if you do dig this cd, then be sure to check out Rosalia De Souza's "Garota Diferente" and Gerardo Frisina's "Hi Note" along with Schema's comp "Freedom Jazz Dance".

This is an interesting album which works on a number of levels.

It is an effective atmospheric latin-tinged accompaniment to a dinner party which will not provoke complaints from non-jazz fans.

If more concentrated listening is your thing it contains enough quality jazz musicianship to satisfy post-bop jazz enthusiasts.

It will also appeal to younger listeners more accustomed to DJ manufactured jazz grooves and it is nice to drive to.

I enjoy most types of jazz but prefer music that challenges me a bit. I tend to get bored quickly with stuff that lacks depth.

I am still finding new things to enjoy in this album after many months of listening.One or two tracks are on a less engaging and ingenious side but overall it is worth shelling out the cash for.

I can understand why some reviewers have given it a low rating because it is more rooted in jazz traditions than his previous offerings.

So, if your not a jazz fan and are not prepared to listen to music at more than a superficial level, please don't go here.

Recommended to all others though.

WoW! I have listened to Nicola Conte's talent for over 2 years now, and his first albums get a high workout in my collection of over 500 CDs. This new CD had me worried there for a minute because I thought that Nicola has escaped into some new weird musical underground with this retro-sounding album, but upon intent listening I am not worried any more! The album has some stand-out tracks but my favorite is the title track (number 11). Words fail me in describing the beautiful sound of this and his other records. I am a dedicated fan for life! Five stars from me!

Being a sucker for the Italian Jazz style, I was naturally drawn to this album. I was not disappointed. It was also great to hear a collection of music without electronics and just get into the great sounds. The cover of "You Are My Sunshine" was wonderfully original and moved along as well as any electrified house track.

Newcomers to Nicola Conte should think of the following concepts - high style, serious talent and retro chic...
People who remember Conte's "Jet Sounds" will understand why he could count on Thievery Corporation as fans. They subsequently signed him to their ESL imprint in the US.
However, this record is different, it moves on from the chilled electronic bossa tinged music of "Bossa Per Due" and "Arabesque" into a territory defined as jazz.
This is pure jazz, no samples and electronic trickery, just Nicola at the centre of the band calling the shots, deciding on a 1950's and 1960's direction. As a result it has found its rightful home with the most famous jazz record label of all time, Blue Note.
Inspired by 60's Blue Note, this album takes you on a musical journey through Hard Bop, Modal and Latin Jazz.
The Koop-like vocal 'Kind Of Sunshine' is probably the stand-out, but check the tough 'Impulso', the driving 'Nefertiti', and the wonderful 'Aphrodite's Dream', plus the tight 'The Dharma Bums'.

I knew Nicola Conte from his bossa & DJ-stuff and was curious to hear what this album would bring, since no electronics were used. I was positively suprised! This is not crossover electronic sci-fi jazz, but real acoustic jazz with great lyrical melodies, very good solo's and fine vocals, all performed by a bunch of very talented musicians. It's an uptemo album, but it has enough space and openness in it which makes it easy to grab, but interesting enough for the long term. Of course it still has the natural bossa-feel Nicola is known for.

If you like f.i. Koop (Waltz for Koop) then this certainly is a record for you.

Nicola Conte moves from his electronic-jazz hybrid to a more full-on jazz album with _Other Directions_. The summery vibe still remains, but Conte eschews the exotic locales of _Bossa Per Due_ for a more straightforward groove (though the Brazilian vibe lives on "Sea and Sand". "Wanin'Moon," for example, has a classic structure, replete with sailing vocals, while "Impulso" surges forward with a quick step rhythm. "Kind of Sunshine" brings in the house kick-drum, it's only appearance on an otherwise sedate album. If anything, Nicola Conte and Koop have the same aesthetic: keep it mellow, keep it pleasant, keep it sensuous. And that's always a step in the right direction. "Aphrodite's Dream" soothes like a Swedish massage, while "The Dharma Bums" feels like a summer drive along the Italian coastline. The title track takes its own journey on the double bass and sax. But it's Conte's cover of Krzysztof Komeda's "Le Depart" that really travels the distance, stretching, as it does, from Poland to France. Any direction is a good one to take with this album.

Seems like you either love this album or hate it. Some people seem to want artist to do the same thing all the time. To me if it swings, or has a nice groove, I do not care if it has a synth bass or an acoustic bass, real drums or a drum a machine. In this outing Conte went acoustic with real instruments and serious players from the Italian jazz scene. He seems heavily influenced buy Blue Note from the 60's. Some of that music was played on juke boxes at the time and inspired the whole acid jazz movement. Listen to Horace Silver's The Tokyo Blues album you will see what I mean. Conte seems to have been heavily influenced by that album. This outing has no filler, all strong tunes. If it has Conte's name on it it will be cool, classy with lots of latin percussion .

Despite being a Nicola Conte's fan I think that his new album for Blue Note is a pretentious attempt to switch from the fresh sound of the previous albums to a boring excercise of re-reading the glorious sound of the jazz of the fifties and sixties. It doesn't sound new and fresh at all (apart from Kind of sunshine very much in the St.Germain style).

What saves this album is the quality of the musicians that took part to it and the fact that the tracks that originally inspired Nicola Conte's ones are so good that any copy can't be that bad. But next time I expect a change of direction...again.

Although I'm a fan of Conte 's work , I've been disappointed by that "new" direction.

It says on the cover that Nicola plays the guitar but you can't really hear any guitar on the tracks .The solos are good , especially the trumpet but the vocals (appart from Sea & Sun ) are poor and the lyrics are childish.There's even one french song were you can't understand a word. Maybe italian lyrics would have been more original!