Search - Carlos Garnett :: Black Love

Stairway to the spirit

rudy.torrento | paris, france | 04/08/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"here's some very nice work by this inspired reed player that has once accompanied Miles and Pharoah. You can get a glimpse of his inspired writing with the tunes Ebonesque or Bank of the nile which both have this Billy Harper feel. The ranks of musicians include Miles/Pharoah alumni like drummer Norman Connors,Guitarist Reggie Lucas and Bassist Alex Blake plus Buster Williams, Billy Hart and,probably for the first time, Dee Dee Bridgewater on vocals and on record. Now this ain't your typical Pharoah type work as you could've expect, since the music reveals some commercial jazz funk aspects as well as some latin influences due to his panamean origins. Nevertheless they are really put on in a soulful way that leaves plenty of space for the musicians and the voices ( which dominates most of the tunes ) to take the music far beyond its reachings. Garnett may not have become famous but his recordings grab your attention with brilliant material and very good playing.Here's an album worth checking out especially after all theses years it's been out of print."

Excellent

Bill Your 'Free Form FM Handi Cyber | Mahwah, NJ USA | 06/26/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Carlos Garnett was a reed player who was in one of Miles Davis' last 70s bands. Like a lot of backup musicans, he made some albums you may not know. Black Love is one, and you just GOTTA hear it.



The album is electric funk, with strong bass and great reed playing. The ideas stem from pretty basic funk blueprints, but Garnett adds amazingly tasteful female back up singers-whose work I can't praise enough-- who add increadible richness to the album. Honestly, I have not heard anybody but Ray Charles use female backup singers this powerfully.



The numbers are both up tempo and down, but the mechanics really don't matter. This is some of the best, most genuine and deeply felt 70s funk jazz I have ever had the good luck to hear. From the first rock stedy title track to ballads such as "Ebonesque," Garnett makes this one of those few albums that truely catch the essence of this music, down to the core.



Best analsys I can give: Buy this, put it on, and FEEL IT!



Trust me on this one."