EXPANSION RECORDS

Jean Carne - Collaborations - Expansion UK

Firstly Jean will be in the UK in the new year for a series of dates, January 23 - 25 2003 at the Jaxx Cafe in London, 26th Band on the wall, Manchester, 28th (tbc) Jam House Birmingham, 29th Ollies Bar Diner, Ascot, 30th Hi Fi Club Leeds. And don't miss it.

This album, out on 20 January, to coincide with the tour, is a collection of 16 collaborations with various artist, plus one solo bonus track. Collaborations very often in my view are passable, often ending up as a sickly love song of no benefit artistically at least to either artist. Maybe that's a generalisation in the pop world as in the jazz world it has always been commonplace.

Now this album in virtually ever case the product is a great song that will only serve to enhance both parties of the collaboration. Maybe that is why Jean is often selected for this kind of product. With Jean's exceptional voice and high calibre collaboratee this album in the main leans on the smooth, jazzy, adult side of things.

The opening track however is more upbeat, and is a killer cut which would and does grace many a high calibre soul nite. A Norman Connors production, persistent beat and vocals intertwining. Lets stay together is just one of those classic tunes, this time given a jazzy vibe with great aplomb, the sax following the vocal.

There's a couple of Grover Washington cuts from his 'Strawberry Moon' album, Gary Taylor's Keep in touch and the Bacharach David standard 'The Look of love'.

'Star Flower' from Lonnie Liston Smith's album Love Goddess is another quality jazz funk and soulful experience. Big Philly connections of course, Jean having cut several albums on Philly International. Here this connection is strongest with Dexter Wansel, 2 tracks plus the Universe on which Dexter also featured. Jean moved on to Motown but Philly was still in evidence with her rendition of Harold Melvin's If you don't know me and indeed much later, in 1995, with Billy Paul.

Fast pacy jazz is the order of the day on Mother of the Future. Nathan Heathman I believe is Jean's musical director and he is the final collaborator on Van McCoy's Lean on Me.

Finally Trust Me, an Al Johnson song on Jeans 1982 album of that name. A great inclusion, probably reciprocating the opening track.

One word for the album - quality.

Tracks : - I'm back for more (with Al Johnson); Let's stay together (with Bobby M); Keep in touch (with Grover Washington Jnr); Star Flower (Lonnie Liston Smith); Love is beautiful (Universe); You might be surprised (Roy Ayers); Holdin On (Dexter Wansel); Night Breeze (Stanley Turrentine); Valentine Love (Michael Henderson); Dindi (Noprman Connors); If you don't know me by now (Temptations); Dreams of Tomorrow (Dexter Wansel); Mother of the future (Norman Connors); The Look of Love (Grover Washington Jnr); Good thing going on (Billy Paul); Lean on me (Nathan Heathman); Trust Me (Bonus Track)