SOUND CHECK.LIL' KIM: ``La Bella Mafia'' (Atlantic) - Two stars Brooklyn rapper and media star Kim doesn't need to play with guns to get fans to raise their hands. The 5-foot-tall gangsta-rapper, who always earns her parental advisory sticker, not only has enough Kim-istry to defend her turf against tough-girl competitors, she's managed to have the Notorious B.I.G. executive produce her new album - six years after his death! But despite declaring she's the ``queen of New York'' and ``about to be elected mayor,'' Kim has little to say besides familiar gutter talk and overused insults delivered over common beats. Two moments stand out from the constant flow of unprintables - a convincing old-school round with Missy Elliott on ``Can You Hear Me Now?'' and a solid rhyme session with 50 Cent on ``Magic Stick.'' Ultimately, Kim simply appears dim on an album padded by overlong o·ver·long adj. Excessively long: an overlong play. adv. For too long: talked overlong. skits spoofing call-in radio and, in classic bad timing, the recently departed Mr. Rogers. - Fred Shuster WAYNE SHORTER Wayne Shorter (born August 25 1933) is an American jazz composer and saxophonist, commonly regarded as one of the more important American jazz sax players and composers since the 1960s. : ``Alegria'' (Verve) - Four stars Sax great Shorter returned to acoustic jazz last year with the impressive ``Footprints Live!'' His first all-acoustic studio jazz effort since 1967 is even better. Recording primarily with the same crack rhythm section Noun 1. rhythm section - the section of a band or orchestra that plays percussion instruments percussion section, percussion section - a division of an orchestra containing all instruments of the same class from the live disc - pianist Danilo Perez, bassist John Patitucci John Patitucci (born December 22, 1959) is an American jazz double bass and electric bass player, specializing in post-bop, jazz fusion and Brazilian jazz. Career Early years and drummer Brian Blade Brian Blade (born 1970 in Shreveport, Louisiana) is an American jazz drummer and composer. Blade made his first appearances as a sideman with pianist Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman and continued to work as a sideman with other musicians commonly known as "young lions. - along with various combinations of brass, woodwind and percussion on some cuts, Shorter has created a masterful work of startling star·tle v. star·tled, star·tling, star·tles v.tr. 1. To cause to make a quick involuntary movement or start. 2. To alarm, frighten, or surprise suddenly. See Synonyms at frighten. imagination and vitality. As on ``Footprints,'' Shorter radically reworks several of his great Blue Note tunes from the 1960s, among them a beautifully reharmonized version of ``Angola.'' The one new composition, ``Sacajawea'' (named for the Shoshone woman who guided explorers Lewis and Clark to safety), begins with a boogaloo Boogaloo (shing-a-ling, popcorn music) is a genre of Latin music and dance that was very popular in the United States in the late 1960s. Boogaloo originated in New York City among teenage Cubans and Puerto Ricans. groove before flirting with free jazz, and Shorter's solo is a thing of beauty. Shorter, who turns 70 this year, remains essential. In stores Tuesday. - Glenn Whipp ROSANNE CASH: ``Rules of Travel'' (Capitol) - Three and one half stars Recovered from a throat polyp polyp, in medicine, a benign tumor occurring in areas lined with mucous membrane such as the nose, gastrointestinal tract (especially the colon), and the uterus. Some polyps are pedunculated tumors, i.e. that silenced her for five years, wayward country princess Cash is back with a richer, subtler and more mature voice on the best of her post-twang albums (in stores Tuesday). The orchestrations, by husband-producer John Levanthal, actually make the pop/rock strain that Cash thoughtfully pioneered, and has since ruined Nashville, sound musically interesting. And while the singer is still on a heavy confessional jag in both her own compositions and shrewd cover choices, there's a more restrained emotional approach that nicely complements the grown-up grown-up adj. 1. Of, characteristic of, or intended for adults: grown-up movies; a grown-up discussion. 2. voice. Guest dueters include Sheryl Crow, Steve Earle Steve Earle (born Stephen Fain Earle January 17, 1955) is an American singer-songwriter, well known for his rock and country music, as well as for his many political views. He is also a published writer, a political activist and has written and directed a play. and Papa Johnny on the disc's most haunting track, ``September When It Comes.'' - Bob Strauss ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND: ``Hittin' the Note'' (Peach/Sanctuary) - Three stars On its first studio album since 1994's ``Where It All Begins,'' the latest incarnation of the Allmans (sans Dickey Betts) does much more than hit the right note. This bluesy band of Brothers rips through a series of extended jams, including the contagious ``Instrumental Illness'' that clocks in at just over a dozen minutes. And in true Allmans fashion, the group puts its stamp on other people's work, too, like the funky reading of Freddie King's ``Woman Across the River'' and a bluesy cover of the Rolling Stones' ``Heart of Stone.'' As for highlights, look to originals ``Firing Line,'' ``Desdemona'' and ``Old Before My Time.'' - Sandra Barrera VARIOUS: ``Rip This Joint'' (King Biscuit) - Three stars Roll up for the summer festival circuit with this two-disc set combining cuts from the deep freeze deep freeze see freezer. with greener stuff. Best moments include Primus' Les Claypool serving up funky grooves in ``Riddles Are Around Tonight,'' Canned Heat's refried Woodstock boogie in ``Goin' Up the Country'' and contempo blues-rockers Gov't Mule's pungent ``I Can't Quit You.'' Also included are numbers from the String Cheese Incident, Fishbone, Humble Pie and Foghat, each with a classic jam that belongs in every retro rocker's musical bong bong 1 n. A deep ringing sound, as of a bell. v. bonged, bong·ing, bongs v.tr. To cause to sound with a deep ringing noise. v.intr. . Note: The album stems from those chronically 420-friendly folks at High Times mag, so pot references are sprinkled throughout. - Michelle J. Mills CAPTION(S): 6 photos Photo: (1) LIL' KIM Mychal Watts/WireImage.com (2 -- 6) no caption (CD covers) |
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