Search - Jazz Crusaders :: Happy Again

Happy Again Review

Steve A. Gatlin | Jackson, Tn. USA | 12/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Happy Again cd features some heavyhitters of jazz, such as, Donald Byrd, Roy Ayers, Hurbert Laws. Bobby Caldwell, Bobby Lyle, Poncho Sanchez, Dwight Sills and a host of others. The Crusaders starts out with "Lock it Down", an upbeat jazz selection that has that Crusader trademark of the sax and trombone unison of Wilton and Wayne, along with solos by each artist. As you progress into the cd, the music changes for upbeat into a more mellow feel with an instrumental of "When You're So Far Away" followed by a laid back jam,"Elephant Walk". The mellow tone of Happy Again continues until you get to "Slyzappit", a funky rock piece. The heavy jazz continues with "Rock Slide". "La Luz Del Dia" is a latin flavored piece that carries you to the Carribean. "Jamacia" continues with the Carribean flavor featuring vocals by Bobby Caldwell. "Traveling Inside Your Love" brings us back home with its mellow feel. "Young Rabbits" reminds us that the Jazz Crusaders are among the best if not the best with this lightning fast piece. "Uh-Huh! Oh Yeah!" is a funky little piece with a history lesson of how and why the Crusaders got their start. Happy Again had to grow on me a little, but it gave me some insight of how deep the Crusaders' jazz roots grow. "Happy Again" is worth adding to your jazz collection, especially if you are a Jazz Crusader fan."