Customer Reviews

Songs From The Analog Playground

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There are few musicians who can actually make my jaw drop, but Charlie Hunter is definitely one of them. You'll notice that the only instruments in the band are saxophone (John Ellis), percussion (Chris Lovejoy) and drums (Stephen Chopek), and Hunter on guitar. There's no organist and no real bassist, even though you can hear all these instruments on this album. Hunter's 8-string guitar is a meld between the first three strings of a bass and the five top strings of a guitar, and he plays everything else you hear.

Hunter's sound mostly consists of Latin jazz. This album is a mix of both slow and up-tempo songs with both instrumentals and singing. The album opens to a percussion piece with a bossa nova feel. Hunter displays his guitar talent starting with "Rhythm Music Rides Again" backed with some great sax from Ellis. "Mitch Better Have My Bunny" returns to the bossa nova rhythm again. Listen to how Hunter mixes a walking bass line with the guitar rhythm. Hunter has several guest along to add to the mix with their voices. "More Than This" is a slow piece allowing focus to be given to the beautiful voice of Norah Jones. Hunter also does a cover of the classic "Spoonful" with the gravelly voice of Theryl De Clouet. An excellent job. Mos Def and Kurt Elling also appear on this album. Each singer lends their talent on two songs each.

The rest of the band are excellent musicians themselves. Both Lovejoy and Chopek provide an entertaining beat to the music. These two are a joy to listen to, and even more fun to see live. It's amazing what these gentlemen do. If you're a fan of guitar, jazz, or even music, check out Charlie Hunter. If you can see him live, he's well worth the price of admission.

Charlie Hunter and his latest cadré of east coast musicians have created some fine jazz and funk here. Now ensconced in the New York City scene with two albums already recorded there, the eight-string guitarist has returned with music worthy of his striking career. There are vocals on eight of the thirteen tracks and they work well with the songs most of the time. Introducing vocals after seven albums of pure instrumentals is a bold move and there are rewards.

The record opens with a percussion barrage courtesy Chris Lovejoy and Stephen Chopek and some spirited vocals by Mos Def. Hunter and Co. then jump into the saddle for "Rhythm Music Rides Again" an uptempo latin-tinged rhythm tune that shows off how tight and in good form this group is. Next, The quartet gives up the funk to back Theryl De'Clouet on some strong, impassioned vocals for "Mighty Mighty". Clouet is the best fit vocally for this group, as his tone, natural ability to shift his phrasing to the demands of the song and the ease with which he does this demonstrate.
Charlie and tenor saxophonist John Ellis create some great harmony as they cruise their way through the Gerry Mulligansque melody lines of "Mitch Better Have My Bunny", the brightest and most joyful of this outing, recalling the joie de vivré of Ready, Set...Shango! and Natty Dread.
The breathy delivery Norah Jones gives on "More Than This"(originally a hit in the 80's by Roxy Music)lacks the conviction this cover needed. Hunter's bass line and transitions have their usual perfection, and Ellis gets to show off his chops at light balladry. The track evokes the memory of Jobim when he worked with Sinatra.
"Desert Way" is a musical journey that ends in some interesting rhythm side trips and some abstract, wandering vocals by Kurt Elling. The quartet was clearly looking for a range of styles with their vocalists and they succeeded. The musical result is more mixed, as this track demonstrates. Theryl D. returns with "Spoonful", the second of the three standout vocals on this record. Mos Def gives us a haunting, memorable "Creole" to remember him by in the third of the three strong vocal tracks. Charlie sketches "Sunday Morning" in his usual evocative, timeless fashion. Norah Jones closes Playground with a classy, bittersweet mid-tempo tune that feels like an autumn afternoon walk through an overcast Central Park.

Songs from the Analog Playground has the most dense percussion and rhythm arrangements on a Hunter record to date, but this never overpowers the proceedings. Lovejoy and Chopek put even more soul into these tunes; Hunter was well-advised to apply what he learned working with Leon Parker on Duo. In all, Playground is ambitious and fun - yet also understated and reflective. Hunter's various groups have never lacked for invention or passion, and the talents these musicians bring to this recording fit right in to the eight-string guitarist's vision.

I've always liked Charlie Hunter recordings more for their originality than their execution. His catalog is filled by remarkably innovative stuff with his jazz, rock and groove influences all in the right order. The three albums I have (prior to this one), however, left me wanting a little more. 'Natty Dread,' for example, was a cool record but the guitar/sax wankery never held my attention for the whole disc.

That criticism doesn't hold for the downright tasty "Songs from the Analog Playground." This is Charlie Hunter album I've been waiting for. It's not about a jazz guitarist; it's all about the grooze. The guest vocalists add variety and spice, while the percussion keeps it funky. There are a couple of songs I'm not crazy about, but they are overshadowed by such choice cuts as More than This, Spoonful and Percussion Shuffle. All in all, an inventive and entertaining slice of acid jazz that's both fresh and organic.

OK...first of all, the album IS out. It was released on Sept. 25th. I didn't realize it was out either until I saw that contest on MusicToday.com where you can win a jam session with him. So I decided to pick it up and I just gave it a spin in the car on the way home from the store. This is, hands down, Charlies best album yet. By bringing guest vocalists such as Mos Def, the Houseman, Kurt Elling, and Norah Jones into the mix, Charlies musical prowess shines through. To think that this guy is playing all of the melodic lines with his 8 string guitar is just mind boggling. Charlie Hunter is just one of those cats that can connect with you musically in ways no one else can. My suggestion - get off your but and buy this album. You won't be dissapointed!

I just saw Charlie hunter just a few days ago (12/3/01) and he was simply *amazing*. I've seen him before last year at about the same time, and I was impresssed, but this time. amazing. the new singer he has with him is one of the best voices ive heard in quite awhile, especially when it comes to the 'new jazz' scene.

If you like charlie hunter, you'll *love* this cd.

also check out the opening band for Charlie, called the Jacob Fred Jazz odyssey. they were excellent as well.

Robert

Songs from the Analog Playground is one of the better modern jazz albums I've heard.

It features a few solid guest vocalists along with some great playing by Charlie Hunter and his band. Each of the guest vocalists bring a uniqueness with them and they make their song special.

The vocalists help keep the album from getting too repetitive and boring. Norah Jones, Kurt Elling, Mos Def and the lead vocalist from the band Galactic do about two songs each. There are also some straight-ahead instrumentals.

The entire cd is filled with very good music. It's very laidback, jazzy and grooving.

I would recommend this Cd, even to people who are on the fringe of being jazzheads because it has that universal musical appeal. Good stuff!

A definite choice for any jazz and funk fan. it is a perfect balance of rythms, jazz, funk, vocals, and soft sounds. Sweet enough for any woman, tough enough for any guy. If you like Hunter, buy the CD

I always love to spread the word on good music, and Charlie Hunter's new album is *definitely* good music. Man, this cat jams on his 8-string and has brought some great vocal talent to his music. I saw him recently here in Los Angeles with Norah Jones and the perfomance was so enlightening, groovey and energized! If you enjoy jazz, from traditional to groovey to funky to even tribal (he's got Mos Def laying down some tribal vocals on his first track!), this is a must listen! He's got some free downloads [on his website]too...

Charlie's new cd left me wanting to hear more. Although Charlie was still accompanied by John Ellis, Chris Lovejoy and Stephen Chopek, it definately had a new feel to it. I was excited to see that this album included many guest vocalists, including Kurt Elling, Theryl DeClouet, and Mos Def. I believe this was the first of Charlie's cds to have vocals on it and it was a nice change of pace. Keep up the good work Charlie!

THis new album is awesome, i love the diversity he is able to reach on it. The singers bring a real spice to hunters already mindblowing music. This album like most of his in the past does not disappoint as it is quite different from all the past charlie albums... id say that this is his best album yet... you should all definitely check it out