Customer Reviews

Sweet Summer Days

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One night a couple of my single friends and I went out to the beautiful Secrets nightclub in Dolton, Illinois, which is 2 minutes south of Chicago. It was ladies' night and if you know anything about Chitown, you know what I mean when I say the DJ was playing "Steppers" music. He turned this song on and within one minute, the tears began to fall as if somebody died! This beautiful song was touching something deep within me. Months earlier, I'd danced the night away to "The Sweetest Days" with my sweetheart at my sister's birthday party at 3G's nightclub. After 60 seconds of subliminal reminiscing, I had to excuse myself to the ladies' room. Today, 1 1/2 year later, after extensive web and record store searching, not knowing the exact title, I finally found out that this is an OBIEDO song and NOT primarily a Peabo song. The tears fell again as I listened...and FELT this song! The bittersweet effect is awesome. Anyone who has never experienced true, real, deep love (or even a walk on a moonlit ocean shore!) can listen to this gorgeous song and really feel true love. What an experience. My man and I are together again, so...shall we dance, baby?

I am definitely a fan of wind music, Everette Harp, Paul Taylor,and many others. However,this is a wonderful album. My husband has had it for years, and just last year we were at home painting, and he put Ray Obiedo (Sweet Summer Days) on, and we both instantly fell deeply in love with it. My favorite song of them all is #7 Macondo. Just simply smooth. Now when I listen to it, I find myself standing in the middle of the floor, with my eyes shut, swinging my arms, as if I am experiencing a sweet cool breeze from the ocean on a hot summer day. The melodies from the electric guitar seems to ignite my soul and it really moves me. This is a must have.

At times when music is reviewed we as "public" reviewers tend to forget what genre music we are reviewing or perhaps are expecting something else to be heard from what we are listening to. Such is a dilemma with "smooth "Jazz. Labelled as Jazz could be a misnomer, in which lies the dilemma. But saying that, on the other hand there are varying levels or styles of " Jazz" and this type of music that Mr. Obiedo offers definitely falls into the smooth Jazz category, as it so is called. Nothing more, nothing less. So it is unfair to give a poor rating on an artist`s work after listening expecting to hear something which the artist in question is not the style he/she is presenting, or maybe what the artist wants to present to his buying fans. Ray Obiedo presents Latin influenced smooth Jazz. Just nice rhythmic, mostly instrumental, melodious, tuneful, subdued "Jazz" music. Which if your a Smooth Jazz listener you should enjoy.

The great Peabo Bryson sings lead on the title track which is beautiful. The cd is full of good material

I simply love this CD. Especially with Peabo Bryson singing "Sweet Summer Days." This really makes the CD a prize possession. Thanks Ray for making such a wonderful CD.

an absolute favorite of mine! the title track features the awesome voice of peabo bryson. You will not be able to stop your body from moving to the beat of fabulous upbeat tracks like Macondo, Juliet and Cassera. When you're listening to this CD you wont want it to end!

Sweet Summer Days was the very first Ray Obiedo CD I purchased - the result of hearing the title track on the radio only once. I was awed by the melodies and flowing rhythms of this song. Having purchased the CD, I listened to it in it's entirety on a flight from LA to Dallas - by the time the flight landed, I was a devout Ray Obiedo fan, and immediately purchased everything else he'd published. I had to search diligently for some of his older albums (e.g., Perfect Crime), but managed to find them all. I then purchased and sent copies of all of his CDs to my family, and to those friends I thought might appreciate it. I am a bona fide hero - I discovered Ray for them, and they're telling two friends, and so on.

I can't rate any of his CDs with less than five stars, and honestly, I'm sorry there are only five stars! I consider myself a jazz fan, and if this is "smooth" jazz, then I'm a convert. I actually tried to find Ray to ask if he would play at my birthday party - he was already booked. I would have paid almost any price. I'm still trying to find the time to see him in concert . . . somehow, someday . . .

Ray is a rhythm guitar maestro - the way he layers rhythm upon rhythm is hypnotic. I find something new in every song every time I listen - - If you're a guitar fan, and especially a rhythm guitar fan, be prepared to surrender. There's no sense fighting it; you can't win - it's bigger than you . . .

If you've ever been hit by a warm gentle breeze, then you already know the pleasure of listening to Ray Obiedo's Sweet Summer Days. What a beautiful CD. The whole album lifts your spirits. My absolute favorite cut is Current State, this alone is worth buying the CD and was the reason I bought the CD. There's not a disappointing song and all of them are refreshing. I highly recommend this CD. Go out and get it today!

The great Peabo Bryson sings lead on the title track which is beautiful. The cd is full of good material

Rcvd the CD and the cover was cracked and old looking. Found it hard to believe it was as expensive as it was since the album was released in 1992. It cost over $16! For that price, it should have at least looked new! However, the CD played well.