Customer Reviews

Soul Shadows

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

 

 

I have been an avid Joe Sample fan for years. I was quite delighted and astounded by this CD. It is a BIG departure from the type of music that he is known for playing. I for one enjoyed it very much. Nowadays, music of all types is so "cookie-cutterish" that it is boring. Musicians no longer dare to stray from their comfort zone or should I say the Music execs and general buying public's comfort zone.

For me, this CD illustrates Joe Sample's true talent, creativity and genius. His rendention of Avalon is beyond words.
I appluaded Joe Sample for taking the dare and showing us "what he is truly made of"!!!!!!! I wish that more musicians would bare their souls as Joe Sample has.

Yes, I too was totally shocked by Joe's departure from the
smooth jazz/fusion/soul/r&b style that has made him a legend
for the past 30 years or more!! However, I acquired a taste
for his completely fresh approach to ragtime, stride, and
early jazz classics! He is totally unpredictable in his
arrangements and interpretations of this standards. There
is no way you can listen and say, oh, yeah, lounge music,
I get the idea. You may even take some time to get used to
how he has treated these great tunes. But Joe has always
been an original, never a copier, and he is always thoughtful
and philosophical in his approach. I would love to see him
perform these songs live, I know it would be entertaining!

Joe Sample has always been an accomplished musician, as a member of The Crudaders, or as a solo artist. However, many of his albums have been too slick for their own good, and not always cutting edge achievements. This solo piano record is just that; a stunning, cutting edge achievement. Sample takes old, worn-out material and reinvents the songs into something startlingly fresh, modern and fascinating. His stride style is reminiscent of the late Willie 'The Lion' Smith - fluent and easy, with just the right amount of swing and energy to make it totally commanding. His reworkings of warhorses like 'The Entertainer', 'It's a Sin To Tell a Lie', 'Avalon' etc bring these old standards into our time - and even further into the future. The whole disc proves that no music is too old or forever lost to the passing winds of fashion as long as somebody is willing to take it seriously and reinterpret it with the modern listener in mind.

What is truly remarkable about this collection is that Sample has taken well known tunes and given them a new interpretation. Even very well known pieces (e.g. Avalon, Jitterbug Waltz, and Embraceable You), sound fresh. The ability to reinterpret well-known compositions takes and incredible talent.

This is a calm and inspiring album; a pleasure to listen to either to discover new techniques to playing these pieces or simply to enjoy in the background at home. And the power of his hands! there's a high degree of energy throughout this CD, demonstrating Sample's passion for the music.

I'm a HUGE Joe Sample fan, but I was disappointed by this CD. It's very raw and somewhat jarring at times. If you like early / rag time jazz, this might be of interest to you. For a truly outstanding Sample experience Invitation is a must - his 1993 release which might be the finest jazz CD of the past 20 years. Other excellent outings include Old Faces, Old Places, The Pecan Tree, and Ashes to Ashes.

If you have problems to fall asleep, this might be the right Cd for you. But if you like to hear Joe Sampleas you are used to him, forget it. I think he has made this record alone for his own pleasure. I only give two stars because he is Joe Sample.