Southern Living

Alex Bugnon | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 7, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B0000CDL5G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,169 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

No description available.
Genre: Jazz Music
Rating:
Release Date: 0000-00-00
Media Type: Compact Disk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a step forward, a look backward, October 12, 2003

By 

Steven Swain "friendly neighborhood mall geek" (Rocky Mount, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Southern Living (Audio CD)

For years Alex Bugnon has been quietly creating an ever-so-slightly funked-up version of contemporary jazz, subtly innovating the genre with gospel and R&B edges, much to the delight of a small core of fans, but at the same time alienating many supposed jazz "purists," put off by the soul and heavy synthesizer elements of his work.

As a change of pace, and likely as a nod to that latter contingent, Alex ditched many of the excessive keyboards found on previous albums and stuck to piano and Fender Rhodes on this 2003 release, "Southern Living." Not to worry, fans, he kept the soul and added on a little more of that influence. It's refreshing, even as a hard-core Alex Bugnon fan, to see this simplicity. Change is both essential and good sometimes.

Recorded in Atlanta with musical friend Phil Davis and some of Atlanta's better studio musisicans (as opposed to Charles "Poogie" Bell, David Delhomme and other Bugnon stalwarts) the album sounds like an easy afternoon in the South, creating a fresher feel than the usual Bugnon albums, while still sounding like Alex. The title track, "Lonely Nights," "Sweetwater Creek" and "Slow Drag" will get your attention on the first listen.

"Southern Living" contains remakes of two of Alex Bugnon's signature hits, a practice most recently seen on "Soul Purpose" (2001). "108*" is a softer reworking of 1991's "107* In The Shade" (from the album of the same name) that, true to form, is a bit hotter than the original. By contrast, the reworking of 1990's "Missing You" as "Missing You Like Crazy" left me cold. "Missing" from "Head Over Heels" didn't need vocals and a bastardized version of its melody. It's a decent song, but the original deserved better justice, if it was to be remade at all.

Despite that gaffe, I encourage you to give this album a try, It's worth it for Alex Bugnon fans and non-fans alike.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have, January 21, 2004

By 

Mint2b "IceAge1906" (Columbia, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Southern Living (Audio CD)

Alex Bugnon is one artist who has consistently put out music that you can buy with assurance that the whole CD will be good. He did not disappoint on this one. This CD is smooth, funky, and laid back all at the same time. The quality of the songs equal and exceed anything that's available at this time. As a resident of the "South", this CD does indeed capture the feel of southern living. If you like great smooth jazz, this is a "must have" for your collection. I wish the bonus song was longer. I could feel the vibe that was happening during the recording. Maybe it will show up on a future project.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Southern Comfort At Its Best, January 27, 2004

By 

Porsha Rector (Newton, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Southern Living (Audio CD)

Alex Bugnon has done it again, with a smooth jazz CD that is wonderful from start to finish....I especially like "Sweetwater Creek", "Missing You Like Crazy" and "Lonely Nights"--An awesome addition to an already impressive career.