From: Bob Davis (earthjuice_at_prodigy.net)
Date: 2003-01-10 14:23:09
How many of yall remember the NYC based group called "JAZZHOLE"?
Remember they were pretty hot for a while in the 1990's "acid jazz" scene, putting out some
truly innovative and FUNKY sounds.
Well they are back on the scene, led by Soul-Patrol member Warren Rosenstein with a new CD
called CIRCLE OF THE SUN.
I've been listening to it over the past few weeks and it's badd!
I'll come back later with a more detailed review and perhaps even put some of this slammin
music up on the the
www.soul-patrol.net internet radio site so yall can get a taste of it.
In the meantime, here is a press release for you to read about the new CD from Jazzhole:
Circle of the Sun!
(PREDICTION: 2003 will be a GREAT year for NEW music)
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JAZZHOLE CIRCLE OF THE SUN
Circle of the Sun, Jazzhole's fourth studio recording, finds founding members Warren
Rosenstein , John Pondel and Marlon Saunders exploring tho new Iwbridity of modern urban
soul: a sound that incorporates down tempo grooves and acoustic R&B, with hints of ambient
electronica and bossa nova. As much a neo-soul as a nu-jazz release, Circle of the Sun
benefits from performances by several new gusts: tabla player Naren Budhakar; vocalist and
Cameroon native Kalssa Doumbe (Manu Dibango, Jean-Michel Jarre, Salif Keita); and percussion
star Daniel Sadownick (Me'Shell Ndegeocello, Maxwell, Screaming Headless Torsos).
Refreshingly, Jazzhole remains an evolving collective of many of New York's most
accomplished live and studio musicians.
While Jazzhole's roster has changed since their 1994 self-titled debut, the band's
core-songwriting and production trio Mar-Ion Saunders, Warren Rosenstein and John Pondel has
not.
Marlon Saunders provides much of Jazzhole's signature soulful sound, Raised in Maryland on a
diet of church singing, Saunders has recorded with, legends such as Bobby McFerrin, Michael
Jackson and Sting,
John Pondel's emotive guitar playing on songs such as "A Lava Thing" and "Superstar", draws
on his many live and recorded performances with artists such as Gerald Wilson, Diane Schurr
and Carmen McRae. John also comprises half of Verve's smooth jazz duo, Kombo, and was a
founding member of the critically-acclaimed Uncle Festive (Mesa/Blue Moon).
In additional to writing, producing and engineering, Brooklyn-born Warren Rosenstein
contributes rhodes and drum programming to Circle of the Sun, In the early 1990s, while
working on seminal acid jazz tracks "Hot Music" (Soho) and "Jazz it Up" (CFM Band),
Rosenstein drew from the rich pool of talent that was hovering around Context Studios on
Manhattan's Lower East Side to form Jazzllole, pulling in rappers KCB (US3), AhmecJ Best
(Stomp), Jack Ruby, Jr. (The Toasters), as well as vocalists Ronnie & Rosa Russ, and Michelie
Lewis for their 1994 debut album on Mesa/Blue Moon- A summer of jamming in the studio, with
musicians like bassist Scott Colley (Jim Hall, Greg Osby) and saxophonist David Binney (Lost
Tribe, Medeski, Martin & Wood) resulted in the eponymous debut album, hailed by Music
Retailing as "the coolest thing since US3 and the Brand New Heavies" and Roiling Stone as
"tile most danceable of all the new-groove groups". This recording showcased the trumpet
playing of Kevin DiSimone on the acid jazz classic "Forward Motion",
.. .And the Feeling Goes Round, Jazzhole's 1995 sophomore release on Blue
Moon/Atlantic, was met with similar critical acclaim: "infinitely funky", and if you
don't feel the need to groove, it's time for a visit to the booty doctor" raved Impact, DJ
Times added: "Some of the most poetic lyrics and turning out some of the fiercest grooves In
the burgeoning acid jazz scene."
Blackburst saw the group mixing elements of electronica and chillout with their soul roots,
and moving away from acid jazz and hip-hop. These changes were well-received by fans and
press alike. Billboard reported: "Blackburst is filled with luscious grooves and intense
rhythms... Saunders and Russ lay down sensuous riffs, perfect for late nights with that
special someone." BRE added: "A yummy collection of jazz-influenced tunes that inspire lust,
laughter and lounging."
For Circle of the Sun, Rosenstein enlisted the talents of many new player-s: vocalist Ka'issa
Doumbe delivers a melodic soft-soul rendition of Leon Russell's "Superstar" in Duala, her
native language, and contributes lead vocals on two other tracks; Naren Budhakar's tabla
colors several tracks, particularly the warm, organic cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the
Silence"; percussionist Daniel Sadownick anchors the vibe with congas, udu, and bongos,
helping create the Bossa flavor of tracks like "Circle of the Sun".
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