Customer Reviews

In the World From Natches to New York

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Olu Dara is one of the greatest musicians out there right now. He is painfully underrated. Every single track on this album is perfect, from the street tales of "Jungle Jay"(featuring Olu's son, rapper Nas), to the funky blues of "Rain Shower". My favorite track on this album, though, is "Harlem Country Girl". On this song, Olu plays beautiful trumpet and sings well. Other great tracks include "Okra", "Natchez Shopping Blues", "Your Lips", "Zora", "Father Blues", and all the other tracks. They are all amazing tracks, and I can't wait for more Olu Dara music.

Olu Dara is an excellent muscian and a great live performer. This CD was in my player for months. It captures a mixture of blues, the southern muscial trandition, and new york jazz. Each track is unique and features compelling story lines.

Im fairly young, so I grew up listening to Nas(olu Dara's son). But, out of curiosity, I bought Olu Dara's album. It was really great. I loved the mood or each song. My favorite song of course is the collaboration with Olu Dara and his son. Listening to this album I see where Nas got all of his musical skills from.

Sometimes the music gods give you presents. Olu Dara is one of those.

Olu Dara had played with avant gaurd jazzmen like David Murry, but his solo material is another story. He makes a New Orleans blues that you would have to like only Supercuts music to not understand.

His arrangements are pretty spare--you would think the whole band is playing without amps, though they are. But the blues and soul lines here are so clear, so well cut and crafted, this music comes off incredibly real--as if you just walked to a Big Easy street corner and started digging on these guys. Listen to the fantastic shuffle of "Your Lips," or the understated trumpet of "Harlem Country Girl."

Olu Dara has a rare gift: making music sound polish perfect AND spontainious. It sounds so REAL, but is so well played, you can tell this guy is an amazing musical talent

GET THIS.

The firt time I heard Olu Dara was at a concert at Yoshi's in Oakland, Ca, from that day on, I felt in love with his music and his style. This cd is just a classic, I have listen to it, at least once a day.

My favorite song is Harlem Country Girl...

this is a classic and however much i like nas it could of done with out him on this record it kinda spoils the flow of it it's a blues album leave the rappers out of it.

From "Okra" to "Zora" and my all-time favorite, "Harlem Country Girl" Olu Dara takes his listener on a ride from Harlem, to Natchez, to West Africa by way of the of the Caribbean. Grab your passport and some good dancing shoes for this gem. Olu Dara is a best kept secret. I saw him at the Hot House in Chicago and immediately wanted to run out and get evertything he's recorded. His voice, masterful delivery and phrasing, his virtuostic cornet playing and his guitar work will enchant.

This is a rich mature effort from an artist who understands the connections between the various genres of music (blues, jazz, soul, etc.) that evolved from the African-American south. Listen closely and hear a horn player's phrasing in the vocals. The songs brim over with his sense of humanity, knowing and not without a sense of humor while his band is a groove monster. Highly reccomended.

This album starts off on a soulful and catchy note, which continues throughout the album. The last track, KIANE, is beautiful. Dara's collaboration with his son Nas is awesome. My favourite would have to be YOUR LIPS. Buying this album will not be a regretable action- Dara blows all those other fish out of the water.

This truly is a great album. I'm already a fan of artists like Muddy Waters & have a decent amount of Jazz albums from Coltrane and Miles. But, I'll have to honestly admit I picked up this album after hearing him play the horn on Nas's "Life's A B****", "Dance" & others. This album is a LOT better than I expected it to be.

The music is a combination of blues, jazz, soul, poetry, and other genres. Olu has a classic blues voice, in which he sings on every song but two. "Bubber (If Only)" features a female & "Jungle Jay" features Nas, both of whom speak poetry over Dara's incredible production and horn. Every other song features the voice of Olu.

Some songs are have more of a jazz feel to them, others are pretty up tempo (almost a Caribbean feel to them), Dara gets pretty soulful on others, but I'd say a little less than half are Blues songs. More powerful than his voice, is the composition of the album. The music is stirring at times, evoking any mood he chooses, the way only a veteran can do.

In The World is great for just background mood music, yet at the same time is powerful enough that when you sit down to really listen, it'll still grab your ear. If you're even slightly interested after reading all these reviews, I'd highly recommend you pick this up. That's exactly what I did and I'm more than satisfied.