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Carmen Lundy - Jazz And The
New Songbook: Live At The Madrid (Afrasia)
Released: November, 2005
Kids - don't try this at home. The disclaimer would read,
"Professional musicians, friendly venue."
Ms. Lundy, no stranger to improvising a thing or two along the way, is
backed by a tight band that includes brother Curtis on Bass, in a live
performance at LA's Madrid Theatre. And it's quite a performance.
The opening track, "In Love Again," the hit from Ms. Lundy's 2003 album,
"Something To Believe In," presses the accelerator to the floor. Even when
cruising along to "One More River To Cross," I'm left feeling I should be
leaning forward because of the force.
Highlights - "Afrasia." Oh, my. When was the last time you heard a conch
shell solo? Steve Turre, nominally a trombone player, provides a great
solo to open this piece, where Ms. Lundy is joined by Krystal Davis
Williams in a prayer of sorts - using many names for God. "Wild Child"
demonstrates not only Ms. Lundy's great range - but her masterful work as
a composer/arranger, as well.
The second disc includes some of Ms. Lundy's successful tracks from
previous albums, including "Send Me Somebody To Love," and "I Dream In
Living Color."
I'm not usually a fan of fusion - but this set is enough of a mix of many
different styles, that -
well, if you're not crazy about one, there's something you'll really like
just around the corner. Ms. Lundy proves that she's at home in any
of them.
I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that many "live" albums suffer
from a bad mix. That's not the case here - the knob-twiddlers did an
outstanding job.
You know those movies that you see countless times, and still find new
things in them? This will be one of those.
Buy this one. You'll play it often.
 Three microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(01/22/06) |
