Sakesho [Enhanced]

Sakesho | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 25, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Label: Heads Up
• ASIN: B00006878S
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #366,760 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Sakésho is a quartet built around the characteristic sounds of the steel pans, as played by Andy Narell. He's the band member most familiar to American audiences, but this is truly a group enterprise, and the roles of pianist Mario Canonge, bassist Michel Alibo, and drummer Jean Philippe Fanfant are all well matched. Their self-titled debut features the polyrhythmic music from the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe called biguine. It's a sort of near cousin to the calypso, and includes some assorted Afro-Cuban strains. There is a celebratory nature to the music, with all of the players except Narell contributing vocals--primarily as melodic choruses that add another syncopation to the proceedings. Recorded with warmth and clarity, the genuine and friendly interplay between the four musicians is nicely captured as well. --David Greenberger

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Exciting Narell Recording Since Light in Your Eyes, July 27, 2002

By 

Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sakesho (Audio CD)

It's not that Andy Narell has made a bunch of bad records since the mid-eighties; it's just that he seems to have been struggling a little bit to find just the right musical context to display his prodigious chops and super-refined musical sensibility since the break-up of the great band he had with Kenneth Nash, Steve Erquiaga, et. al.

Well, he's found it with Sakesho. Though billed as a "true band," it's hard for me to see this as anything other than Andy Narell's new gig. OK, there's a greater compositional contribution from his bandmates than before, but Narell's is such a strong musical personality that any date he's on he's likely to dominate.

What sets this apart from recent Narell outings is the level of musicianship. These guys (Mario Canonge, piano & keys), Michel Alibo (e-bass), Jean Phillipe Fanfant (drums) seem to be definitely pushing Narell beyond his usual comfort zone yet without compromising his deep groove--indeed setting it even deeper in the pocket, if possible.

Take, for example, Laventille, a Narell original. Everyone cooks mightily, yet it all seems so effortless. When Narell comes in for his solo at about the 4:30 mark, he turns in an impassioned effort, one of his best, with all the lads, especially Fanfant, providing sympathetic yet provocative support. This record achieves a profound swing only occasionally reached on his last five or six releases, and that in a somewhat contrived latinate enviornment.

I'm blown away by this recording. It hasn't left my changer since I got it several days ago. Highest recommendation.

4.0 out of 5 stars Jazz with a Tropical twist, January 11, 2004

By 

"lar8200" (Palmer, Ma United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sakesho (Audio CD)

This CD is just fun to listen too. The musicans are amazing and the songs are great with unique timing and use of their instraments. I was fortunate enough to see this band play live and it was an awesome show. Again the best word to discribe it is fun, you enjoy yourself and have a good time listening to the CD, you want to get up a grove to it while having a margarita.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Live!, May 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Sakesho (Audio CD)

I saw the band live at a small non profit arts place in Connecticut. What a great show!! Full of energy and you could tell they were having fun. I had to have this CD!!