This Journey in

Rebirth | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 27, 2005)
• Original Release Date: November 27, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Kajmere Sound
• ASIN: B0007Y8876
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,838 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 21st century jazz-funk MASTERPIECE, March 1, 2006

By 

isaac "lawyer-surfer-christian" (middle of the pacific) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This Journey in (Audio CD)

This album has blown me away so completely, I have to write a review just to tell someone (anyone) about this! I know little about this band except the background info provided above, but believe me - I'm a devoted student of the bass guitar and have spent my music-collecting life tracking down music that grooves - this album has been one of those rare revelations that makes all the searching worthwhile.

In terms of genre, this album falls in that hybrid jazz/soul-funk, acid jazz realm. No surprise that Gilles Peterson is supposedly all over this band. They recall Roy Ayers' and the Mizell Bros' finest moments, but with a modern vibe and more adventurous playing and arrangements. They also draw comparisons for some to acid jazz's leading acts like Incognito, Brand New Heavies, etc., but unlike these bands, Rebirth focuses less on pop song structures and more on simply laying down the groove.

The album rolls out one hooky groove after another, including funky shuffles, smooth mid-tempo jams, a double-time brazilian number, even a little drum and bass sprinkled in. You figure the inspiration has to run out sometime, but it keeps on coming the entire album, with not one throwaway in the bunch.

The playing is first-rate, full of nuances that make musicians nod and references to the idiom that make fans smile. The vocalists aren't amazing as soloists, but the harmonies are tight and swingin. The production is top-shelf, with plenty of vintage sounds and styles.

In short, I haven't seen anything in recent years close to this level of musicianship, taste, mastery of the idiom, and groove. It seems like this band assimilated the 70s jazz-funk golden age and the early 90s heyday of acid jazz and appeared fully formed out of nowhere. Where did they come from? Who knows, but they've landed bigtime and in my mind have set the new standard.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great! Great! Great!, April 17, 2006

By 

Reg (NJ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This Journey in (Audio CD)

I have been a fan of the Rebirth since I first heard the single "Everybody say yeah" and "This Journey In" back in 2004 when they were released as singles. I had been waiting for their CD to drop ever since and needless to say I wasn't disappointed. This CD is simply great modern soul music with no weak tracks to mention. I also had the pleasure of seeing them live in New York. They gave an awesome show and you shouldn't miss them if they come to your town. Very few CD's are worhty of 5 stars but this one is a no brainer. Easily in the top ten of quality underground soul CD's released in 2005.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Buy This Album!, August 28, 2006

By 

bordersj2 (Boston) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: This Journey in (Audio CD)

The Rebirth are a soulful/live act based out of LA. They've got 7 member band and when you hear their sound, it becomes clear awfully quickly that every one of them is loaded with talent. They've appeared on numerous compilations and have a few 12" EP's out too, most notably, their appearances on the Om Lounge series, Gilles Peterson's now hard to find GP Eclectic series, and even the Rewind! series off of Ubiquity records.

This is a terrific album. Fusion, Funk and soul. Probably one of the top, if not THE top, album I picked up this year. I spun "This Journey In" and immediately people asked "Who is that?". That's the title track and you get a sense of the vibe for the album from there on. Soul, surprises, and tight musicianship. But it doesn't stop there. Another song that gets you up is "Shake It". It's got that classic guitar funk and sound to it that'll give you nostalgia to 70's soul. "Talking Me Down"'s got a bossa bounce to it and a harmonious part that's pretty amazing. It's just that snap, that change of pace that takes you by surprise of the music and adds loads of different directions to their sound. Other songs that I relaly liked were "Walk Talkin' Mizell", the mood of "Sinkin'", the sweet broken beat (weird) of "Got Your Madness" and the powerful ending with "Revolving Door".

Hard to find many faults in this album. I can't pretend that I 100% understand their inspiration. But I don't have to pretend that I like this because it's a fantastic album and Rebirth are masters at producing terrific and deep music and perhaps as importantly, sensational sounds. You have to hear this one to believe it. Sort of like... Jiva meets Jazzinho who meets Da Lata produced by Gilles Peterson. And, if you like this, you definitely want to check out Jiva, Jazzinho, Wagon Cookin's album titled "Appetizers" and maybe work by Fertile Ground. Whatever you do, don't miss this one.