Customer Reviews

Reflections

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I read this December 2000 JazzUSA.com review and heartily agree with their comments on Luico Hopper's "Reflections" CD. Suffice to say that every cut is seriously slammin!!! The JazzUSA critic really got it right...I wildly echoe his sentiments and nominate "Reflections" for the "Smooth Jazz Album of the Year". Do yourself a favor and check it out!!!

Luico Hopper Reflections (Ralston Hill - 2000) by Sidney Bechet-Mandela

"It's almost sinful how some of the best smooth jazz never makes it to the airwaves. It's as if the acts in regular rotation are coasting with their new music, while those bubbling under the charts are striving to make the cut with exciting music that pushes the rather shallow smooth jazz envelope. The problem is that programmers are underestimating their audiences, thinking that listeners don't want anything to jolt them into paying attention to the musical wallpaper they're being force-fed. The result is that great, musically savvy albums, like this one, that fit firmly into the smooth jazz window are allowed through the cracks.

Hopper, a bassist with impressive credentials, has delivered a quite listen-able nine track offering that sparkles with a smooth sheen that is delightful. If there is one tune that could make the airwaves, it's the only cover on the album, a hip version of Bill Withers' "A Lovely Day," that brings to mind smooth jazz regulars Joe McBride and Kevin Toney. Hopper wrote all the other tunes and proves that he has thoroughly absorbed the essence of the smooth jazz movement. "Reflections" is also a wonderfully recorded album that does not suffer from over production. Quite the contrary, this could be the sleeper smooth jazz album of the year."

For those of you with a discerning taste for soulful jazz with just a tinge of funk, Luico Hopper's reflections CD is one that you won't want to pass up. His well orchestrated, purely instrumental, melodic cuts evoke reflections of the best classic, romantic soul music. On his title cut, you might expect to hear Barry White interject, but you are instead treated to Luico's Bass licks. Lovely Day, the only cut on the album that was not composed by the artist, has a sweet piano part for the melody against a wahwah guitar rhythm. Don't Hold Back is the fastest tempo cut on the album, with a jazzy sax solo against a funky organ background, yet it still maintains that smooth romantic, melodic groove. This is an album that you might want to play during a romantic evening with your lover.

This CD is off the hook! Every song on this is a piece of art. My favorite is "Don't Hold Back." The radio stations should really consider giving more play time to Luico Hopper's songs.