Customer Reviews

Sun & Moon

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

 

 

It's been tough to find a lot of information about this group. They're out of Atlanta and this release, from what I've learned, is a Japanese only import. So that explains why it's a bit costly here. Moreover they've been around for quite a while, flying completely under the main-stream radar. They've also had a few random 12" cuts around being remixed from a diverse variety of producers/DJ's, like Thomas Naim and Joyce Hoze or "Tom & Joy". This album was released on Giant Step Records, the same label that I believe put out the "Soul Sessions" series, Nuyorican Soul and Donnie.

This is a terrific album. The best way I can describe Jiva's sound is really like fusion - a mix of Incognito/Fertile Ground/Brand New Heavies with a splash of bossa. It starts out smoothly with Matra 1 before the guitar preludes the title track, which is like a splash of live musicianship - it has amazing energy. Then there's a sweet bossa with "Stars", which glides more like a summer breeze. The track reminds me of an updated but even classier Francesco De Masi Italian bossa track. That's followed up with "I Realized", another strong song which really does feed off of a great vibe before "Free Falling" cuts on, which has another bossa undertone but this time with English lyrics. The highlight and probably most popular track of theirs was "Love Chooses Lovers", which has a distinctly 70's fusion feel to it. The prelude is noce before the wave hits and you've got the gliding bossa carrying the track.

I love the concept of their sound, and do recommend this. 4.5 stars, as I wish the album was a bit longer (it's just over 37 minutes long) - maybe adding in a few of the remixes out there but that rounds up to five and the focus with them is clearly on the quality of the music. You can get a few snippets of their music on the "Soul Sessions" series along with Boss House N' Breaks vol 3, and I'd imagine a few of the nu-bossa series will feature pieces of this album over the summer. If you do like this, you may like music by Incognito, Fertile Ground and Brand New Heavies but you'll probably also like music by Soul Quality Quartet, Tom & Joy, Rosalia De Souza's "Garota Moderna" and maybe S-Tone Inc. and Joyce. Definitely keep an eye open t osee some of these on the remix table & on vinyl as well.

It doesn't happen very often but every now and then I put a new CD into the player and within the first few seconds of the first track, I know I've made a good choice and that I'm going to get a full return on my investment. This CD brings on another of those times. It reminds me why I love music the way I do.

Jiva (the word means "the spirit within") emerged from the vibrant and exciting Atlanta music scene in 1996. This is a real band with some great singers and people playing proper instruments including an impressive horn section. I'd be really interested in seeing and hearing them perform live.

I'm not sure exactly what this kind of music is called but I'd call it vocal acid jazz with a twist of soul and bossa nova. The band describe themselves as being "a soul band with a love for Bossa Nova and lush arrangements". Rhonda Thomas sounds a bit like Maysa Leak on "I Realized" and Alexander Lattimore sounds vaguely Luther-esque on "Confessions Of A Man". (Listen out for him also, on the deep house Tauriva Mix of "Stars"). I like every song on here, including the extended remixes, which create more space for instrumental improvisation. The original version of "Love Chooses Lovers" is another standout track, as is "The Goodbye Song".

If you like Incognito, Rebirth, Fertile Ground or early Jamiroquai, you'll probably like this band. If you like all four, you'll probably love it. A huge shout out to my man Joe for alerting me to the group. Many thanks also, to bordersj2 for his superb informative review below.