Dance, Sing, Cry or Fly
W. Tapscott | Toronto | 11/01/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a ridiculously beautiful record. How do they come up with this stuff? Hey let's go to Guantonamo Bay, infuse Jazz into traditional Cuban Changui, and layer it with Louisiana Swamp music and Blues. WOW! Guests include the late great Dewey Redman, Howard Johnson and Blues artists Johnnie Sansone and Kevin Brett. Sansone's "Gimme One Dollar" and "No Money No Chica" are hits with my University age friends - dancing on the dock all night long this summer - they love it even though they don't recognize the Don Pullen quotes. Redman's Tenor is rich and full - check him out on the first cut `Changui Para Alfredo' and then on # 10 'Yemaya' - the power is raw like a Hippo braying in the jungle. And everywhere Jane Bunnett's soprano and flute emotes - like on #1 - her sax lifts me into the air - on #6, 'New Orleans Underwater' - I'm overcome with the anguish of abandonment, on #10 - I am restored and triumphant. She's heroic. Put this on your headphones for your next marathon - you'll fly. This record was the #1 Jazz Album in Canada this year. It should take a Grammy.
Is this the last great recording session for Dewey Redman? I'm really going to miss his Tenor.
"
Her best yet
Lawrence Hirsh | 04/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first saw Jane playing in Madrid around 20 years ago and was very impressed. I bought one of her previous collaborations with Cuban musicians which I loved. But this record gets away from those salsa riffs, and explores Changüi, a fresh world of loose rhythms and polyrhythms wherein all the excellent guest players can feel at home and stretch out without necessarily making a display of chops. The result is really seductive music which you can listen to over and over again. The songs have a wry humour. There are some weird things going on the low frequencies, a mixture of Cuban drums, bass and tuba, which are excellently recorded and quite unlike anything I have heard elsewhere. I was amazed (and lucky) to see such great music on sale at 1c. There is not a single dud track, so buy it."
Great CD
JazzAddict | 09/21/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a terrific CD with totally fresh music from Jane, livelier than her previous album - Red Dragonfly. She has always been a great flute/soprano sax artist. She plays both on this album. I have seen her on many occasion live and have many of her CD's. This is definitely one of her best works. This CD also contained some guitar which is also nice. Look forward to Volume 2."