Beyond Words

Bobby Mc Ferrin

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 2002)
• Original Release Date: March 12, 2002
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Note Records
• ASIN: B000060K0S
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #16,821 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Vocalist Bobby McFerrin, best known for his pop hit, "Don't Worry, Be Happy," is a talented vocalist and all-around musician. This recording is a true reflection of his genius, and it takes jazz-fusion to another level. Joining McFerrin is the great pianist Chick Corea, with Gil Goldstein on accordion, Cameroonian bassist Richard Bona, Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista, and drummer Omar Hakim. Their music is a 21st-century blend of Return to Forever and Weather Report. McFerrin's superhuman vocalese investigates and invigorates a number of musical genres. Corea's spellbinding piano motifs grace the calypso-like "Invocation." McFerrin and Corea turn in a beautiful duet version of the pianist's waltzing jazz standard, "Windows." "A Silk Road" and "Desert Field" are laced with Afro-Eurasian and Arabic colors. Bona's Jaco Pastorius-influenced bass lines anchor the hip-hop oriented "Taylor Made," named for McFerrin's son, whose human beat-box vocals pepper the track. Bobby McFerrin's voice sings, scats, and constructs a musical language that's understood by everyone. --Eugene Holley Jr.

Product Description

McFerrin's, Beyond Words, is his 12th full-length release and his first on Blue Note Records since 1992's Grammy Award-winning album Play. Like that earlier record, Beyond Words reunites McFerrin with pianist Chick Corea, and is full of the quicksilver, improvisatory flights of musical fancy that have characterized McFerrin's extraordinary career.

Bobby McFerrin: Vocals, Keyboards
Chick Corea: Piano & Keyboards, Gil Goldstein: Accordian & Fender Rhodes, Keith Underwood: Flutes, Taylor: McFerrin: Beatbox, Richard Bona: Bass, Cyro Baptista: Percussion, Omar Hakim: Drums

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bobby keeps evolving, July 25, 2002

By	David A. Beamer (Clawson, MI United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This recording is kind of a cross between McFerrin's "Play" and his "Circlesongs". Like "Play", it is evident that he is taking his jazz seriously, but it has something of the minimalist approach of "Circlesongs". Those expecting the sunny "Don't Worry..." McFerrin will probably be disappointed.

While the music is not calm or inert, it is understated. The work here is subtle. He doesn't try to overpower you with his immense creativity. As the title suggests, there are no words in his singing -- something he has been exploring in most of his recent recordings. And in a bit of a departure, this CD is not just about him; he lets the other musicians take the spotlight.

Bobby is evolving -- into a more complete musician. That's not to say his earlier works are lessened in any way; it's a realization that Bobby can dovetail his ideas with others. All in all, an interesting recording with much to recommend it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Caught me by surprise, March 11, 2003

By	"rwhamann" (Colorado Springs, CO USA) - See all my reviews

I've been a rock fan most of my life, but since I've been playing bass I've been listening to a lot more jazz. I bought this disc because Jazz Times gave it a good review. It's a great jazz album, but I was totally caught off guard by how much I enjoyed the world music aspects of the disc. Bobby's silky smooth lyrics just grabbed me, and the disc is now a permanent resident in my cd-changer.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond Words, September 10, 2005

By	The MU51C Analyst "Jon" (Maine, USA) - See all my reviews

Beyond Words, is a well created and good-sounding CD. The vocals are not words, which I did not know when I bought the CD. Nonetheless, the CD is like nothing I have ever heard and has a lot of soul. It took me a little while to get into, as some CDs do, but it was definitely a good buy. Addressing the song selection, well, after about a good half hour you get sick of them, they get rather repetitious. Bobby McFerrin undoubtedly is a skilled musician, his vocal range is extraodinary and his jazz singing, (check out him with Chick Corea) is well unbelievably amazingly spectacular. Back to the CD, some of the songs sound very similar to the Circlesong CD, if you like that, you'll like this too. A tip I have for you considering this CD is listen to the sampler tracks and see if you like it before getting this CD.