Record Reviews
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  | TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON ~ THE MOSAIC PROJECT: LOVE AND SOUL
CONCORD 888072377790 (Barcode: 888072377790) ~ USA ~ Smooth Jazz
Recorded: 2015 Released: 2015
This is an album by American Jazz drummer / composer Terri Lyne CarringtonFind albums by this artist, recorded with an all-female team of instrumentals and featuring a long list of female vocalists, including Natalie ColeFind albums by this artist, Nancy WilsonFind albums by this artist, Lizz WrightFind albums by this artist and others. The album presents twelve tracks, six of which are original compositions by Carrington and the rest are Jazz and Pop standards. It is a follow up to the earlier album from 2011, also recorded by an all-female lineup, entitled “The Mosaic ProjectFind albums with this title”.
The music is, not surprisingly, on the lighter side of the Jazz spectrum, as the album’s side hints, with a strong Smooth Jazz and Jazz-Pop Fusion mannerisms, but nevertheless it is perfectly played and sung, and by any standard is a completely valid contribution to the Jazz genre, especially so on the other side of the pond. Carrington is of course a superb Jazz drummer and is capable of playing anything she chooses to, and this effort to extend the Jazz genre towards a wider audience is a perfectly legitimate experiment.
Overall, although directed mostly towards the Pop-Jazz audiences, it keeps the Jazz atmosphere intact and might bring new listeners towards more advanced Jazz explorations. For people who enjoy Soul music and female vocals, this album is an instant winner.
| | Updated: 12/07/2026Posted: 12/07/2026 | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
  | MIKE STERN ~ BIG NEIGHBORHOOD
HEADS UP 3157 (Barcode: 053361315726) ~ USA ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Recorded: 2009 Released: 2009
Guitar virtuoso Mike SternFind albums by this artist already proved his talents in the last three decades, being not only as an incredibly talented player, but also as a composer, bandleader and recording artists. What I admire about this great musician is his ability to maintain an incredible consistency and dedication to keep up a highly artistic standard. With this, his 16th album as a leader, Stern does it again, again all odds.
Full of excellent new compositions (all of them his own) and brilliant instrumental work, this album is also a melting pot of ideas and musical directions. Stern invited many of his peers to take part in the recording and the final list of participants reads like a who´s who of modern Fusion: guitarists Steve VaiFind albums by this artist and Eric JohnsonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jim BeardFind albums by this artist, drummers Dave WecklFind albums by this artist and Terri Lyne CarringtonFind albums by this artist and even the entire trio of Medeski Martin & WoodFind albums by this artist – and this is only a partial list.
In spite of the multitude of participants, the album presents a remarkable consistency and makes perfect sense by any standard. There´s really no point in explaining again and again how good this stuff is – simply listen to it and you´ll know. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant stuff!
| | Updated: 12/07/2026Posted: | CD 1 Recommend To A Friend |
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