WARNER BROTHERS RECORDS

We have devoted this page to reviews of product from Warners - Warners Website - warners

Scroll down for reviews of:-

Jaheim - Still Ghetto	Jaheim - Ghetto Love
Joshua Redman - Elastic	Norman Brown - Just Chillin
Euge Groove - Play Date	Robert Randolph & The Family Band - Live at The Wetlands

A few reviews for WB product follows, much of the material falls in to the Smooth Jazz arena, but in order to kick things of we start with brief comments on Jaheim's massive two albums

Jaheim - Ghetto Love

Jaheim is for sure Warner's biggest Urban artist and whilst this album isn't particularly new it is worthy of comment. It put Jaheim right up there and still sounds so good. He possesses the qualities that appeal to the street audience but has the quality vocal to appeal to soul fans generally. I have never been an 'artist' man. Never have gone out and bought everything by a particular artist, I prefer to select the tunes. Of course some artists come close and can be reliable, Jaheim already comes into that category. There is so much quality on here, the mellow grooves, street credibility and out and out pure Soul.

The smooth mellow groove of Looking for Love, upbeat and punchy R'nB dancefloor killa Let it go with Castro. 'Could it be' is a great tune posing searching questions about life on the block. Jaheim on this and his later album firmly plants his feet firmly on the street and in Ghetto roots and pride, the title track is more of a ballad, a love song to the Ghetto. 'Lil Nigga featuring Castro, Duganz and Precise although possibly deeper in intent adds a touch of humour.

'Just in case' is classic Modern soul, was played extensively to be pretty much played out. But not having heard it for a while can confirm that it still remains a classic cut and was worthy of that status, still massively enjoyable and a surefire toe tapper. We then move into soul ballad dreamland Heaven in your eyes is a georgeous harmonic deep sensuous love song. We stay in that territory forAnything (featuring Next). Waiting on you with Miss Jones is still one of the top tunes on the album and continuing with the duets or collaborations we get Terry Dexter oozing soulfulness on Remarkable. On Love is still here we have something that seems totally out of character or at least the portrayed image, in that we have an out and out ballad, vocals and piano and not much else, almost middle of the road. Concluding with a stripped down remix of Could it be.

A classic, and sustainable album.

Jaheim - Still Ghetto

Continuing his affair, lifestyle, gimmick whatever with the Ghetto Jaheim continues to cut it large. For me he is still the man, the one to beat out there. Sheer quality pretty much throughout, although he does go over mellow a bit in places. Diamond sets up the beats and imagery. Even tracks like Fabulous, which if described would sound a bit twee, sound good to me, cutting lyrics and child like innocence. By the way theres a storming remix going around (Angmo's roll the soul Rmx).

Let's talk about it is a georgeous mellow cut with some echoey repetitive backgrounds but what seals it for me is the sample of the wonderfully mellow and side splittin soul gem, Try to leave me if you can by Bessie Banks. Man he can pick the samples to make these tracks sound good, this time it's William Bell And Booker T's I forgot to be your lover on Put your woman first. Aside from the vebe the sample sets down we see Jah in an old school soul vibe lyrically.

Beaty and the beast with Mary J is good but one might have expected a bit better. Me and my b*tch is mellow again but we are returning back to the main theme of this and the first album.

Often compared to the great Teddy P, and we see a sample from him on Backtight and you are reminded of the comparison. Jah presumably sees it an is honoured by it too. Special Day is easy, yes so easy and includes some luscious strings. The 'You can ask' mixes, whilst mellow are particularly catchy and Long as I live is no exception. Indeed neither is Everywher I am which has a jazzier vocal and arrangement. Tight Jeans adds a touch of lighheartedness to proceedings.

What you want is for a (usually wasteful) interlude quite strong, dirge pace and threatening groove and pleading vocals over street sounds. Every which way is a strong cut, strong lyrics again, picking up the beat and leading into the old skool (Creative Source)funky title track.

Another strong album pleasing to the soul and the r'n'b headz.

Tracks – Intro ft Duganz, Diamond in da ruff, Fabulous (ft Tha Rayne),Let's talk about it, Put that woman first, Beaty and Thug (ftMary J Blige), Me and my B*tch,Backtigt, Special Day,Long as I live, Interlude,Everywher I am, Tight Jeans,What you want, Every Which Way (ft Duganz), Still Ghetto (ft Taquane)

Joshua Redman – Elastic

Prolific Joshua on Alto, Tenor and Soprano, ably assisted by Sam Yahel on assorted keys and Brian Blade on drums. An enjoyable ('cos saxes usually are!) smooth but not quite smooth album, bit more freeform that pure smooth, and that's a good thing because it extends the boundaries just a tad. Recorded in early 2002 and all own songs and productions (except for Ouma)

I like the funkier tracks like Jazz Crimes which has a nice organ instrumental break followed by a fast funky sax solo, or the jazzier freer form of Molten Soul. The mellow cuts like The long way home are a touch to insipid for me. And then the old skool cuts like Oumou which are Ok.

So the first four tracks illustrate also a diversity on the album which might mot be consistently to everyones taste, but a) keeps you interested and b) shows the talent therein. Can a good thing last is a fine cut, slow, traditional, piano led but heart warming. Boogielastic funks it up again as the title might suggest as does, one of my favourites News from the front. Unknowing is one of those going nowhere (but for the musician probably going everywher!!!!!!) tracks as is The Birthday Song.

Tracks – Molten Soul, Jazz crimes, The long way home, Oumou, Still pushin that rock, Can a good thing last forever, Boogielastic, Unknowing, News from the front, Letting Go, The Birthday song

Norman Brown - Just Chillin

Just Chillin' an apt title for the smooth guitar work of Norman Brown, this gentle album just eases away all those aches and pains. Well produced and written, Norman having most to do with the composing credits. Generally 3 sets of producers Paul Brown, DOA & Norman, James Poyser & Vikter Duplaix.

Opening up in a mellow jam stylee, and then into the title track which is a bit more complex guitar led but featuring good horn section accompaniament. To be absolutely honest the vocal tracks always do most for me and there is a gem on here featuring Chante Moore Feelin the Way, with sweet backing and cut in New York . Wispy and harmonic.

Night Drive is harder on the beatwith the guitar meandering behind and a nice Flugel by Rick Braun.

More top quality guests in the unmistakeble, tough unfirtunately not to my taste, in Michael NcDnald on I still believe. Change of producer on a faster jazz funk tip 'Dancing in the House'. There's usually a cover, breeding on the popularity of the song, and no exception here with Jam & Lewis's Let's wait a while. Yes I guess it'll get plays but the rest is so much better.

Won't you stay, again a vocal cut, this time with Debbie Nova, mellow yet strong jazzy vocal and catchy hook. Mikki Howard features on the closing cut.

Tracks:- The feeling I get, Just Chillin, Feeling the way, Night Drive, I still believe, Dancing in the house, Let's wait a while, Won't you stay, In my Life, Not like you do.

Euge Groove - Play Date

The debut CD from Euge, a jazz Saxophonist, mostly tenor on here. No pun intended but there is a nice groove throughout this album.

The opening cut kicks off in a semi upbeat funky kind of way setting the scene for a well produced and appealing jazz album. From the top keeps it going with a harder bass line, and allowing more freedom in the sax passages. Gonna B Alright brings it down with images of an older mellower more traditional style.

Letting my ears do the hearing I haven't done any research into this but I would guess (and I'll correct this if I'm found to be wrong) that Euge Groove is Steve Grove and that he penned or co wrote all the tracks on the album, with exception of the sultry version of Marvin's let's get it on. Rewind is a sweet and mellow funky little number, and here's me trying to avoid making comparisons but maybe the title tells you where this is coming from – Rewind to what about 1972. Love Me mellows down with some vocal harmonies provided by Stacy Campbell. Touch of Latin coming from Peter White's guitar on Bella Maria.

Play Date, the title track sees Euge on Soprano. Personally I prefer the more upbeat and funky cuts I have to say, like Hide and Seek.

I'm sure that this will get some good exposure on the Smooth radio stations, for a debut album it is exceptional of that genre. Enjoyed it very much indeed.

Tracks: Slam Dunk, From the Top, Gonna B Alright, Lets get it on, Rewind, Love Me, Hide and Seek, Bella Maria ft Peter White, Play Date, With you I'd believe.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band - Live at The Wetlands

Robert on pedal steel guitar and vocals, and hisband on this live album recorded at The Wetlands in New York City on August 23 2001. Not a great lover of live albums but this one picks up the enthusiasm and musicianship without the audience sound being over intrusive. He/ they can sure cook a groove but the whole thing is a bit too rock-y for me. Opening instrumental cut cracks along at a fair old pace allowing the not often used these days steel guitar plenty of exposure.

Some nice Hammond on the fast paced The March. Pressing my Way is the first of the vocal cuts, a slow dirge like Blues, which cuts more ice with me because it is less rock and more blues. Then we get the familiar intro to Slim Harpo's boogie Shake Your Hips.

All the tracks are long and drawn out and it looks like everyone had a good time, unfortunately not for me

Tracks: - Ted's Jam; The March; Pressing my way; Shake your Hips; I don't know what you come to do; tears of Joy.

Visitors: