SOUND CHECK.Andrea Bocelli/``Sogno'' (Philips) For his follow-up to the enchanting worldwide smash ``Romanza,'' blind tenor Bocelli offers a selection of makeout songs embracing traditional and contemporary Italian pop, plus his duet with Celine Dion on ``The Prayer,'' performed at the Academy Awards. Bocelli boasts a beautiful voice and the romantic orchestrations of numbers such as ``Cantico,'' and the title track will continue to seduce fans while drawing new listeners. Three stars - Fred Shuster Blackstreet/``Finally'' (Lil' Man/Interscope) New Jack swing king Teddy Riley Teddy Riley is the name of more than one person of note.
Noun, pl sounds artificially produced to make a play, esp. a radio play, more realistic sound effects npl → efectos mpl sonoros are taking the lead over melody. Riley has proven he's a master of rhythm. It's too bad he didn't cut back on the ballads and focus on tunes. Two and one half stars - F.S. Soundtrack/``Metroland'' (Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) .) Mark Knopfler maintains a moody mood in this atmospheric soundtrack mixing seven new compositions by the golden-toned guitarist with tunes from French pop chanteuse chan·teuse n. A woman singer, especially a nightclub singer. [French, feminine of chanteur, singer, from chanter, to sing; see chant.] Francoise Hardy, Elvis Costello  The of this article or section may be compromised by "peacock terms".You can help Wikipedia by removing peacock terms. , the Stranglers, Hot Chocolate and even Knopfler's own Dire Straits, along with a few welcome hits of Gypsy jazz from the great Django Reinhardt. Three stars - F.S. Pope John Paul Pope John Paul is the name of two Popes of the Roman Catholic Church:
Does the Supreme Pontiff rock the house? You decide. On his first album, the pope delivers messages of faith and bad music. Blending Vatican Radio broadcasts in five languages with drippy drip·py adj. drip·pi·er, drip·pi·est 1. Characterized by dripping; drizzly: a drippy, wet day. 2. Slang a. Tiresome or annoying. b. strings, synth synth n. 1. Informal A synthesizer. 2. A style of light popular music made with synthesizers. Also called synth-pop. drums, choirs and a female soprano, ``Abba Pater'' isn't going to replace Jay-Z or the Backstreet backstreet Noun a street in a town far from the main roads Adjective denoting secret or illegal activities: a backstreet abortion backstreet n Boys on the Top 40 anytime soon. But Bingo Night may have gotten a new soundtrack. One star - F.S. David Sanborn/``Inside'' (Elektra) Working closely with producer-musician Marcus Miller for his generally satisfying 15th solo turn, urban-toned alto saxophonist Sanborn goes for spontaneity and feel over steely perfection. Dropping by for cameos are such top jazz players as Bill Frisell, Michael Brecker and Wallace Roney, while Dr. John's ``I Walk on Guilded Splinters'' is sampled for the funky Miller original ``Trance.'' Another winning track is ``Brother Ray,'' in which Sanborn's searing sear 1 v. seared, sear·ing, sears v.tr. 1. To char, scorch, or burn the surface of with or as if with a hot instrument. See Synonyms at burn1. 2. alto is pushed by a driving three-piece horn section. Aimed straight for radio is a Sting vocal on ``Ain't No Sunshine'' taken from Sanborn's old ``Night Music'' TV show. Three stars - F.S. Wild Magnolias/``Life Is a Carnival'' (Metro Blue) The Big Easy's century-old Mardi Gras Indian tradition has inspired some of the most joyous funk and r&b of all time from the likes of the Meters, the Neville Brothers, the Wild Tchoupitoulas and the Wild Magnolias, whose first two mid-'70s albums are classics of the genre. Featuring the street-smart singing of Big Chief Bo Dollis and stellar guests Dr. John, Cyril Neville, Robbie Robertson and Allen Toussaint, this disc is a party waiting to break out. Exuberant material such as ``Pocket Change,'' ``Pock-A-Nae'' and Robertson's title track fuse the Indians' call-and-response chants with the Crescent City's patented rhythms for an infectious good time. Three and one half stars - F.S. Cesaria Evora/``Mar Azul'' (Nonesuch none·such also non·such n. 1. A person or thing without equal. 2. See black medic. none ) Sigh. It's difficult not to fall for Evora's wonderfully delicate Cape Verdean ballads. Her warm, gently mournful mourn·ful adj. 1. Feeling or expressing sorrow or grief; sorrowful. 2. Causing or suggesting sadness or melancholy: the mournful sound of a train whistle. mornas feel like the ocean waves washing over you on the last day of an island vacation, sweet memories and imminent loss mixed together in a sensual, sad brew. The voice is in fine form here, with delightful backing spiced with a muted trumpet and a hint of harmonica harmonica. 1 The simplest of the musical instruments employing free reeds, known also as the mouth organ or French harp. It was probably invented in 1829 by Friedrich Buschmann of Berlin, who called his instrument the Mundäoline. . And the lyrics are translated in the liner notes, so you can finally figure out what's making her so sad. Three stars - David Bloom Houndog/``Houndog'' (Legacy/Columbia) It's hard to believe a new Los Lobos albums is due shortly, given the near-avalanche of side projects that have hit stores lately. This one features lone wolf David Hidalgo with Mike Halby, best known for his work with boogie-blues outfit Canned Heat. Here, the blues get slowed down to about 25 rpm, with loping, spare stuff as sad as Ol' Blue moping out on the front porch. The vocals sound a bit like Ol' Blue too, but the baying fits the instrumentation the way an old .22 squirrel rifle fits in the crook of the arm. These tunes won't set you dancing like Cesar Rosas' new album, but they have their own oddball charm. Two and one half stars - D.B. Various/``The Gypsy Road'' (Alula alula, alula spuria the freely articulated first digit of the avian hand. Called also bastard wing. alula remiges see remex. ) The Roma people have roamed indeed. Coming out northern India hundreds of years ago and slowly moving westward into Europe, they never quite alighted anywhere, even as they acquired a new name - the Gypsies. This compilation attempts to give some sense of the musical migration of the Roma, with Gypsy artists spotlighted from India to Spain. Those traditions have been quite durable - and influential, too. The compilation suffers a bit from the breadth of selections it brings together, and while there's little coherence to the selections, the disc does provide a useful entry point for those interested in exploring a wide-ranging thousand-year-old musical tradition. Two and one half stars - D.B. CAPTION(S): 8 Photos Photo: (1) Blackstreet (2--8) no caption (CD covers) |
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