Customer Reviews

Shelter

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jacqui Naylor's "Shelter" is a soothing, melancholy portrait in blue, a memorable, classic-feeling jazz album by a deeply talented singer. Naylor's throaty voice and the gentle, shimmering accompaniment by Art Khu combine for a beautiful listening experience.

The album builds up with the slow, pleading "Shelter," before unfolding into the contemplative "Before I'm Gone," the subtlely mischievous cover "Miss You," catchy guitar-led "Free My Love," ethereal ballad "All For You," sax-augmented "Winter," and the outright amusing "Cheese Puff Daddy." ("You're a cheese puff daddy and I don't eat... junk... food!")

Naylor's vocals are good'n'flexible, as well as clear, soft and sultry. In a few songs, like the Rolling Stones cover "Miss You," her voice takes on a slightly naughty tone. You can tell she's enjoying herself there. Her voice sets the mood for each song, becoming cool or warm, hard or soft as the music demands.

The songs, all but a few written by Naylor and Khu, are simple but quite pretty. While they have a note of sadness, there's a sense of optimism as well. ("In your eyes I see /The hope of what the world can be/I would give my life /Too see you grow into great things..."). The music is a blend of jazz, folk, blues, with touches of trip-hop in places to spice it up. Plenty of smooth sax, percussion, and gentle guitar.

A bittersweet album, "Shelter" is the right thing to listen to on a slow rainy day while stroking a sleeping cat, or maybe to slow-dance to in the evening by candlelight. Pretty and beautifully sung, this is a keeper.

Though the track "Miss You" could make you think otherwise, and in spite of the repeated comparisons with the folk-jazz diva, I prefer Jacqui Naylor's work above that of Norah Jones. Having taken that out of my chest, and knowing I will probably get flamed by Norah's fans (although I didn't say I disliked Norah Jones' music), I stand by my statement and here's why.

This is a very mature album, which is not coincidential, considering she's recorded two albums before this one (check out her site www.jacquinaylor.com, for MP3s to allow you to sample her entire discography). For this recording, the songs fall into four somewhat distinct categories: the piano-based tracks, the guitar-based and cello-guitar-based tracks, the tropical-influenced tracks and the "standard" jazz songs.

As for the piano tracks, co-producer/songwriter Art Khu plays the piano in most of them, adding an intimate touch that magically blends with Jacqui's voice, yielding some of the most amazing works in the album, such as the case of the title track, the touching "I Remember You" and the ballads "All For You" and Joan Armatrading's "Love & Affection" (with the rhythmic counterpart of Jon Evans on bass and Jason Lewis on drums).

Matt Brubeck's cello work (Berkeley Symphony, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Indigo Girls and others) pours a life and a special soul into a few tracks (perhaps too few, for my preferences), always going alongside an exquisite (and very Sting-like, it must be said, too) Nylon String guitar by Craig Steen, Steve Erquiaga and Brian Pardo. "Free My Love", "Climb Higher" (my favorite track) and the closing track are the best examples of this type of work.

In terms of the more "tropical" tracks, there's a little bit of everything, but mainly Brazillian influences can be felt outside the tracks mentioned so far. For starters, when I listen to "Miss You" (a Jagger-Richards song) I can't avoid thinking of the very groovy NY-Rican band, SiSe. But the real flava' of the album begins in the second half, when Bossa Nova-influenced "Winter", and bossa ballads "Take This Chance" (also with Matt Brubeck on cello) and "If You Know Love" show a whole new dimension of Jacqui's voice that would otherwise remain hidden from us.

Finally, for straight jazz lovers, there's "Tired" (though not without some Brazillian touches sprinkled by Emiliano Benevides) and "Cheese Puff Daddy". So, when someone tells me that Jacqui sounds a bit like "Norah Jones meets Beth Orton", though I can see the resemblance in a few places, I say "Nah!" Jacqui's voice stands out like none of the two, and she definitely also has a place among the stars. Time will confirm it, I am sure.

I had a chance to see Jacqui Naylor and Art Khu live in New Orleans about a year ago, and more than a year before that I was already a Jacqui Naylor's voice huge fan (hint: see my 5 star review of her yellow album). Some songs in this CD exhibit a certain musical signature that, I think, is probably sort of a watermark of Art Khu. For me there's a tension/energy, almost a slight urgency, or even tint of aggression (musically speaking, not lyrics-wise) that were nowhere to be seen in her yellow or red albums.

Rhytmically speaking, the song that catches my attention the most in this CD is "Miss You" (#3). In Jacqui's sexy humming and voice, and with this very catchy musical arrangement, this song reaches for me a special classic status, more so than the already classic Rolling Stones's creation.

About "All for you" (#6), interestingly, to me the song "sounds" almost like a dark grey private day. The lyrics do speak of a "private" slow day, though not rainy/grey at all, but shiny, warm and sunny. The song starts unassumingly, and the lyrics go very very suggestively, beautifully describing that even "willows are not weeping..." Then there is this very specific moment, a sort of climax of intrigue, the moment when Jacqui sings "Listen, the breeze knows the day...", shortly followed by a completely open invitation: "Let's make love worthy of the day"... This is truly a wonderful poem and song.

"Climb Higher" (#7) also gets all my attention very specially every time Jacqui sings the word "Higher", it is the chant of an angel plain an simple. Exactly like the lyrics, this song and music projects the purest motherly love. "Sleep my sweetness sleep, in precious innocence...". So beautiful.

"Take this chance" (#9) has a tense cello intro, and then a very pleasant guitar all the way. This is a song with strikingly no-nonsense, non-metaphorical lyrics: "Why are you willing to take the chance of losing love?..."

"Cheese Puff Daddy" (#10), another song with amazing rhythm, and a funny, sassy song in itself.

"If you know love" (#11), is one of the songs in this CD that has the biggest emotional effect on me. From the very beginning, those acoustic guitar sounds seem to invite you to dance softly to the wonderful music that follows (waltzy, with some latin touches), just softly and closely, with the person you want to grow old with; it is that kind of song. And this song has one (among many) of the sonic landscapes that I think Jacqui's voice is absolutely perfect for.

#13, "Tired" is totally jazzy, with touches of Brazilian charm. An awesome combination of bass, saxo?, drums, and piano, Jacqui's voice of course, and that "twig twig" Brazilian-like sounding instrument which I don't know the name of. The ending having Jacqui's voice singing "Tired" almost going far away in the distance evokes images of a noir film, with a gorgeous lady leaving a guy alone in a smokey room, for good and forever, very jazzy and noir.

#14 "Fall" has such a beautiful guitar, sad and beautiful lyrics. "Let my words do what no silence will"...

A bonus for us audiophiles, the recording quality is truly excellent I think.

This is a very poetic CD, and truly a very personal and sincere creation. I love it, and highly highly recommend it.

Jacqui Naylor's first album was pleasant and enjoyable, but her latest "Shelter" is a work of art. She has perfected her style into sultry, smokey, and yet completely smooth Jazz/Pop/Blues. Her voice aches with love, lust, sorrow, anger, and longing from track to track, and the transition to each is seamless. The songs are all high quality tunes that you'll find yourself humming throughout the day (a problem i found with her first album is that some of the songs were rather weak, this mistake is not repeated however) and the orchestration is lush, subtle, and never overdone.

some standouts....

Shelter - Definitely one of my favorites, it's soft and silky and sultry, and perfectly captures that feeling of safety found in a relationship.

I Remmeber You - This one has a lovely sway in its rhythm, and the ache in Jacqui's voice will break your heart.

Love & Affection - Super sexy!

Tired - Fun & witty rant at failing romance. The line "So goodbye, and don't forget to take out the trash I saw you with last week" is so perfectly delivered, I laughed out loud.

I highly recommend this album. It's great for close listening by yourself, background music for reading or chatting, or curling up with your sweetheart.

I bought this album after hearing Jacqui's music and interview on United Airlines. It was the Spotlight Channel and she was the featured artist. I can see why! More people need to know about this amazing artist...not just because of her unique and soothing voice but because of her voice as a human being as well. I really get that she is THE REAL DEAL....a star with a vision and a gift for writing and performing songs that everyone can relate to in a way that is heartfelt, honest and soulful. She has increadible range and the songs are all really different yet connected because I feel that she brings all of her to her music. I say this especially after hearing the interview on United. She is a buddhist and seems to make a real committment to using her voice and album sales to support humanity. Shelter has a particular dedication to those living with AIDS and I guess she does a lot in the way of community service to back this up. Cool. THIS IS AN INSPIRING AND WARM SOULFUL SISTER WITH A GREAT CD. Buy it and it will move you!

Anyone who can successfully cover a Joan Armatrading tune is extra-special!

I've always wanted a groundfloor opportunity. You know, like having had the foresight to buy shares of Microsoft before it went through the roof.
That's how I feel about Jacqui Naylor's "Shelter" album. A close, personal friend gave me the tip about this cd and now I'm forced to add "wise" and "trusted" when I speak of them, because this one is a must have!
I've heard Diana Krall WAY more than I'd like to mention and, to be honest, they've put Norah Jones in such heavy rotation, that I don't want to turn on the radio anymore!
I can listen to Jacqui's dulcet tones every day of the week. Her voice can be as rich and decadent as your favorite dessert or sweet and cool like a rising stock; and being backed up by the multi-talented Art Khu will only help Jacqui Naylor corner the jazz vocalist market faster. Buy this cd! Jacqui Naylor's stock is definately rising!

I am in the music business and come into contact with many musicians and their music. Rarely have I come accross a record that I am impressed with. I am absolutely bowled over by this album. Forgive the harsh comparisons but even with all the acclaim that Norah Jones' record received in the last year I consider this a stronger record. Who is this woman? Why isn't she better known? This album has all the ingredients to propel her to household name recognition status: beautiful voice, strong songwriting, wonderful mood. I believe this work should be considered for album of the year. Highest praise.

This is an awesome album. The songs are sensual, yet also thought-provoking, a nice combination. The arrangements are great: strong rhythm and musicality. Check it out! You'll want to play this one on rainy afternoons, or Merlot-and-conversation-drenched evenings with special friends. But it is not background music- the serious music afficionado will be listening to the very talented playing of Art Khu and the rest of the gang as well as to Jacqui's breathtaking vocals.

I heard Jacqui's version of "Miss You" (yes the Rolling Stones tune) on the radio in New York and was totally knocked out...sexy,slow and very very cool! I would have bought the CD for this song alone but it turns out that the rest of the album is equally amazing and mostly originals. That's saying a lot. If you are looking for a truely talented and unique new artist...THIS IS IT!