Customer Reviews

Soul Providers

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

 

 

I recently picked up Smooth Urban Grooves by Soul Providers and if you're a fan of Smooth Jazz then this is a CD for you. The hip-hop tracks Encore, Through The Wire, Hate It Or Love It and 21 Questions are very smooth and have a Chicago steppin feel to it. However I'm a slow jam type of guy and the slow jam jazz covers on here Let Me Love You, We Belong Together, Lovers & Friends and Diary all stand out. The Usher/Lil Jon/Ludacris composition titled "Lovers and Friends" retains its soulful ballad ways, while the addition of certain jazz elements delivered from Baldwin's keyboards and the soulful horn charts played to the hilt by Nelson Rangell and Marion Meadows. The same can be said for My Place which becomes a even smoother slow jam when the sax is added to it. If you get a chance pick this one up.

I picked this up by chance. I saw that Bob Baldwin was associated with the group and thought that it would be interesting knowing that Baldwin is one of the better jazz artists. That being said, those expecting a jazz interpretation like the Hidden Beach Unwrapped series might be expecting a little too much. They stay true to form on most songs and they don't disappoint. Some tracks I can see as being a jazzy cover of hip hop without straying away too much. Nevertheless, it's a cool cd to play that would entertain and appeal to everyone.

A must have for all jazz lovers. Superior instrumental sounds of R&B tunes. Get it ASAP.

I would recommend this CD if you are a pop/contemporary jazz type listener. I selected this CD because of the producer [Bob Baldwin] behind the music. Although not quite to the soulful jazz standard of his own compositions, this CD none the less is enjoyable to listen to. Tracks 1, 4 and 8 are particularly note worthy.