State of Mind

Midon

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2005)
• Original Release Date: June 7, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Manhattan Records
• ASIN: B0007YMUO8
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (100 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,779 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Raul Midon’s debut State of Mind is the sort of CD that makes R&B tastemakers twitch with pleasure. These 13 tracks are so supple, round and rich it’s safe to say the blind, New Mexico-born, half-Argentinean R&B/jazz artist is a unique hybrid of Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder. There has been a lot of speculation as to whether his sightlessness has helped Midon arrive at his Wonder-esque soul and scary-real talent. Weigh in if you want, but don't expect to arrive at any satisfying conclusions. Midon, like Wonder, Hathaway, and Al Jarreau, is the rare artist so clearly delivered to this earth for the sole purpose of making beautiful music. Drawing from pop, reggae, jazz, Afro-Cuban, and flamenco wells, Midon twists together a wonderful genre grab-bag strong enough to rival Seal. Two highlights, on an album full of them, arrive on track seven "Expressions of Love," when Stevie Wonder steps in for a harmonica solo, and on "Keep on Hoping," where Midon duets with the talented folk/ blues artist Jason Mraz. -Tammy La Gorce

About the Artist
It's rare that an artist arrives onto the pop music scene so fully loaded with the kind of hit-making potential that singer-composer-guitarist Raúl Midón possesses. The New Mexico-born, New York-based Midón makes his recording debut with State of Mind, produced by Arif Mardin and Joe Mardin for Manhattan Records. The 13-track collection of Midón originals is a remarkable mélange of soul, R&B, pop, folk, jazz and Latin. The CD places on display his earnest, lyrical songwriting; full-bodied vocals steeped in soul; a singular syncopated, flamenco- and jazz-infused acoustic guitar style; a unique vocal trumpet improvisation; and hopeful disposition.

While you can hear traces of Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Jose Feliciano and, Richie Havens in his music, Midón is an extraordinary original whose passion is expressed in his indelible songs. "I like to celebrate the possible, the highest, the best of possibilities for human beings," says Midón, who has been blind since birth and is the son of an African American mother and an Argentinean father. "It's easy to be pessimistic given the state of the world. But I'm inspired by people like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi who had the ability to transform. Collectively we create an enormously powerful force that can change the world and overcome any obstacle."

As for working with the Mardins, Midón says, "We're coming from the same place. Arif is really into melody and comes from a jazz background, but with a firm foot in pop. I love good melodies and lyrical hooks, but I'm also musically trying to play something interesting. Joe is versed in all aspects of the recording process, from the notes to the sounds. That is to say he knows what mic to use to get a particular kind of guitar sound. He has the vision, discipline and training to bring out the best in the studio and you know that when you are done you will have something that sounds superb."

State of Mind is a revelation. The CD not only trains the spotlight on Midón's buoyant delivery, but also boasts a guest roster featuring Stevie Wonder (a guest harmonica performance on "Expressions of Love") and Jason Mraz (a vocal duet on their collaborative song, the reggae-inflected "Keep on Hoping"). In addition there are contributions from Latin jazz flutist Dave Valentin and percussionist Sammy Figueroa (on the Afro-Cuban sizzling "I Would Do Anything."), harmonica ace Gregoire Maret and percussionist Cyro Baptista (on the exuberant "Sunshine") and jazz vibraphonist Stefon Harris, who performs on the sublime "All in Your Mind." This last song is Midón's way of opening a window on what it's like to be blind. "I wrote 'All in Your Mind' to talk about how, when you're blind, you perceive everything through your imagination."

Even before he entered the studio with the Mardins, Midón was accumulating the kind of accolades reserved for seasoned pros. The New York Times called him a "virtuoso," while Newsday heralded him as a showstopper. The Washington Post commented that Midón's "style is a febrile amalgam of Stevie Wonder vocals, feel-good pop songwriting, sophisticated jazz harmonies and a ferociously aggressive way of playing acoustic guitar."

Midón followed college in Miami with a career there as a solo artist and studio background vocalist in the Latin music arena. Midón moved to New York in 2002, where he began performing in clubs. Work with DJ/producer Little Louie Vega resulted in international gigs and the album Elements of Life. After performing Stevie Wonder's "Make Sure You're Sure" at Carnegie Hall for the concert "The Movie Music of Spike Lee and Terence Blanchard," he contributed one of his own songs to the score of Lee's film She Hate Me.

However, Midón hastens to note that his move from Miami to New York was fraught with risks. "I gave up the Miami studio and club gigs, some of which were glamorous. I wanted to make it on my own in New York, which is such a hotbed for music of all types. But that meant that all of a sudden I was doing pass-the-hat solo performances in small clubs. It wasn't easy and people thought I was crazy, but I felt that I needed to. If I didn't, I would be forever asking myself, what if I had tried? Sure, I had some breaks, but the night after Carnegie Hall I was back playing in a club."

But when opportunity knocked, Midón answered. He's opened for world music diva Cesaria Evora, and performed opening honors for guitar hero Jeff Beck (who said afterward, "It's refreshing to see that there's still talent out there. I'm a fan."). After being turned onto Midón via a Kennedy Center performance viewed over the Internet, Jason Mraz enlisted him for his 2004 acoustic Tour of the Curbside Prophets. In city after city, Mraz's young audiences were entranced with Midón's songs and style.

A different kind of audience--older, more in tune with '70s and '80s pop--was wowed by Midón's opening set for Michael McDonald's performance at the Beacon late last year. His voice soared, his trumpet vocals provided rich harmonies, and he grabbed, slapped, clawed, beat his six-string acoustic with a percussive, harmonics-sprinkled attack. The crowd was hushed for Midón's solo appearance, and he received a standing ovation. "I've played for very diverse crowds," he says. "I hope to speak to all ages with the new album."

Midón traces his own beginnings back to the tiny town of Embudo, N.M., north of Santa Fe on Route 68. His Argentinean-born father was a professional dancer who left home at 17 and danced his way through the U.S. before settling down in New Mexico with his New York-born wife (who died when Raúl and his identical twin brother were very young).

"Very early on I knew I wanted to play music," Midón says. "I'd be riding in a car and I'd listen to the rhythm of the turn signal. I heard music in everything, from a car horn to the crickets."

As a child, Midón was initially attracted to the percussive native folk music of Argentina (his first instrument was drums). After becoming fascinated with his dad's collection of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis records, he began to explore jazz, and later the pop music of the day (James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder).

Meanwhile, Midón was taking guitar lessons from a flamenco player. He later turned to classical, then jazz guitar. He notes, "The way I play today is an amalgam of all those styles, mixed with my fascination with the great rock and blues guitarists like Eric Clapton and B.B. King. Today, Midón says, his guitar style--more muscular and assertive than folksy and quiet--is still evolving. "I'm constantly trying to integrate everything I know musically into the guitar. I'm trying to make it sound like an orchestra."

State of Mind opens with the rousing title track, a tune about Midón's first months as a struggling musician in New York, with mouth trumpet and guitar harmonies. Other numbers include the spirited "Everybody" (written as an empowerment response to the heroes of 9/11), the radio-friendly soul/R & B vibed "If You're Gonna Leave," the romantic pop melody "Mystery Girl," the flamenco-inflected "Never Get Enough," the balladic beauty "Suddenly," and the love song "Waited All My Life," which Midón wrote for his wife. Another dedicated song is the brisk and bright "Sittin' in the Middle," written and sung in tribute to Donny Hathaway.

The overarching sensibility of Raúl Midón's auspicious premiere, State of Mind, is a sunny optimism--that despite the dark days there is a light. "Part of our mission as artists, besides entertaining," Midón says," is to say something positive, without preaching, to our audience, whether it numbers in the hundreds or millions."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing., June 29, 2005

By	K. Smith (Nebraska) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The ONE TIME TiVo lets me down. It failed to record Letterman last night for some reason. Good thing my insomnia kicked in and I stayed up and watched it anyway. This guy was INCREDIBLE. I have a fascination with amazing acoustic guitar playing and this was AMAZING. I would most describe it to be like a flamenco style. Incredible guitar talent. And the vocal trumpet thing? Awesome. When he played that guitar solo along with his "trumpet" solo it took me a second to figure out what was going on it was so seamless.

I had no idea the guy was actually BLIND until I started looking up everything I could find on the guy that was on the internet. I can't remember the last time seeing a musician perform on TV has had such an effect on me. First thing this morning I got up and went all over town hoping someone would have his CD (of course... nobody did). I gave up on the search for a little while, but just could not stop thinking about it. I eventually tracked down a copy (although it took a longer than I wanted - Borders calls it "R&B"... which I guess it could be, but it seems unfair to classify his music into such a 'neat' category).

One of my favorite songs so far is the second track, "If You're Gonna Leave," but they're all really solid songs. I don't want to do a play-by-play of the entire CD, but just know that the CD is pretty incredible. If you liked what you have seen on Letterman/Leno/etc. or heard on NPR, you're going to love this CD.

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I just came back on after having this CD for about two months because I wanted to give an update of sorts after having listened to this CD quite a bit. Honestly, I just enjoy the CD more and more each time I listen to it. I talk up Raul Midon's music pretty much any opportunity that I get, and I really hope that he becomes very successful. We need more musicians like him in the world... it just makes the world a better place to live :)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AT LAST, SONGS!!! Expressions of Love! Mystery Girl! , June 29, 2005

By	Peter Lavezzoli (Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA) - See all my reviews

Of course I was anxiously awaiting the Letterman show, and Raul was as stunning as I expected! But folks, the song that he played, State of Mind, is only the tip of the iceberg. But first off, before I get to the artistry of Midon himself, let me praise this disc as an outstanding RECORDING. The production is perfectly understated but not bland, the placement order of the songs is very convincing, and the sound of Raul's voice and guitar comes through impeccably, so hats off to the great Arif Mardin for his production expertise. This recording succeeds on every level.

I've been seeing Raul for a few years now, and let me give some background. A native of New Mexico, blind from birth, Midon rose to the top of the jazz program at University of Miami, one of the most competitive programs in the world. I first saw Raul when he was still living and playing in Miami, and in those days he mixed his own unique R&B material with a healthy dose of serious jazz. This may not be apparent from this new CD, but let me say that Midon is one of the hottest acoustic guitarists in JAZZ...he would often sing a scat vocal of GIANT STEPS by Coltrane while ripping on the guitar at a level of virtuosity that is simply astonishing. He plays in the classical and flamenco style, and the jazz people at the University of Miami nicknamed him "Segovia." He also played as a member of Colombian singer Shakira's band on the road for some time, and he is a master of Afro-Latin rhythms, a formidable percussionist in his own right. He finally realized that NYC is the place for a musician of his calibre, and after moving there, he has astounded everyone.

So...we have a jazz and Latin music virtuoso who also happens to be one of the most soulful vocalists and songwriters out there. Raul Midon is a musician's musician, but he's also the non-musician's musician, with some of the best LOVE BALLADS you'll ever hear. Lyrically, he is nothing less than a Ray Of Sunshine, a true Brother Of The Light, bringing positivity, love, and light into this world. As a composer, he knows how to give each song its own unique twist. Although his writing is crafted in the R&B tradition of Stevie Wonder (who appears on this album) and Curtis Mayfield, he finds little ways to inject his jazz chops on the guitar: brief flashes of virtuosity (check the solo on Mystery Girl) and unusual chord progressions in the Steely Dan vein. Midon has had a full band in the past, but recently he has preferred to play as a solo acoustic artist. This CD is in that vein, and is well produced by Arif Mardin, who obviously understood that Midon would shine the brightest in an intimate acoustic setting.

Every track here is outstanding, but if I had to pick highlights, pay special attention to the closing track, All In Your Mind (a stunning look at life through the eyes of a blind person), or the song with Stevie Wonder's harmonica solo, which is Expressions of Love! Never mind Stevie, he's great on this, but the song itself is SO worthy of our attention...a song of hope and rebirth for those of us who have suffered in love. I've cried over this song, and that is a blessing. And the real classic LOVE BALLAD is the funky, soulful Mystery Girl...this is the one song that will knock you out completely. But again, every song is a gem. This is a formidable debut. I've been waiting for this CD for years, and even though I'm a longtime Midon fan, this disc has still exceeded my expectations. I'm going to have a hard time removing it from my player. The tasteful production and high quality of material stand up to repeated listenings. This is what real music sounds like. When music can bring tears and joy, you know it's real. And it's real Raul. We are all very fortunate that he has arrived, because I promise you that he is going to take us to some very beautiful places in the future where we need to go.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing, amazing, amazing, June 29, 2005

By	G. M. James "Music Lover" (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazing, amazing, amazing. Raul Midon is truly a musical genius. Words cannot describe how mind-blowingly, unbelievably talented this man is. He is simply phenomenal.

My husband and I saw Raul perform live at the Miami Beach Jazz Festival early this month (June 2005), where he was the opening act for a double concert by Chris Botti and Norman Brown. When he started playing, the audience was so transfixed by him that everyone was silent. Between songs, you could hear people whispering, "Who is this guy?!? My God, he's AMAZING!" The crowd honestly went nuts over him, clapping and wooing louder and louder at the conclusion of each song played. It was an amazing experience.

I bought his album the day it was released and was thrilled to once again hear the songs that he performed live in concert, including "Sunshine". It's been a long time since I've seen an artist that exudes this level of talent, which for me is very exiciting. Raul's fusion of jazz, pop, R&B, and Flamenco-style music is fresh and original. His lyrics are inspiring and meaningful. On top of that, he's been BLIND SINCE BIRTH, which will make your jaw drop even further once you hear him.

When Raul plays, it sounds like multiple instruments are playing, including drums and trumpet. He is able to play a guitar and keep a steady drum beat at the same time by using the base of his acoustic guitar as a drum. He also vocalizes the same sound a trumpet makes by blowing air out of his tightly pursed lips. If you had your eyes closed, you would NEVER KNOW that it wasn't someone actually playing a trumpet. This man is incredibly gifted and is truly blessed with a God-given talent.

Buy this album. You won't be disappointed.