Cerca de Mi - "Little" Louie Vega, Menendez, Albert St
Africa/Brazil - "Little" Louie Vega,
Nos Vida - "Little" Louie Vega, Figueredo, Armando
A Better Day - "Little" Louie Vega, Menendez, Albert St
Ma Mi Mama - "Little" Louie Vega, Pardo, Jose Luis
Tu y Yo - "Little" Louie Vega, Vega, Luis F.
Summer Night in Spanish Harlem - "Little" Louie Vega, Muniz, Ralph
Quimbombo - "Little" Louie Vega, Brewster, Dwight
Canto Para Chango - "Little" Louie Vega, Martinez, Pedro [1]
Sunshine - "Little" Louie Vega, Menendez, Albert St
Elements of Life - "Little" Louie Vega, Hedge, Kevin
Mon Amor - "Little" Louie Vega, Pardo, Jose Luis
Mozalounge - "Little" Louie Vega, Menendez, Albert St
Famous for his many contributions to the global dance community both as a solo artist and as one half of legendary duo Masters at Work, Louie Vega's newest full-length piece is further evidence of his boundary-breaking mus... more »ical genius. Exploring, dissecting and fusing musical genres like Bossanova/Samba, African Jazz, Salsa and Soca, and languages like English, Spanish, Cape Verdian, Yoruban and French, Elements of Life creates a gorgeous musical collage. Elements of Life's uplifting message is most notable on the single, "Brand New Day" - created with pioneering underground music duo Blaze (Kevin Hedge and Josh Milan). The featured artists on the album are seasoned singer/songwriter/guitarist Raúl Midón and rising superstar, Anané. . On this album, Anané expresses herself in her native Cape Verdian language, English, and French on bossa-flavored cuts "Nos Vida (Our Life)" and "Ma Mi Mama (With My Mommy)", as well as in the sexy spoken word collaboration with Dimitri From Paris on "Mon Amour (My Love)." and Ursula Rucker on "Journey?s Prelude".« less
Famous for his many contributions to the global dance community both as a solo artist and as one half of legendary duo Masters at Work, Louie Vega's newest full-length piece is further evidence of his boundary-breaking musical genius. Exploring, dissecting and fusing musical genres like Bossanova/Samba, African Jazz, Salsa and Soca, and languages like English, Spanish, Cape Verdian, Yoruban and French, Elements of Life creates a gorgeous musical collage. Elements of Life's uplifting message is most notable on the single, "Brand New Day" - created with pioneering underground music duo Blaze (Kevin Hedge and Josh Milan). The featured artists on the album are seasoned singer/songwriter/guitarist Raúl Midón and rising superstar, Anané. . On this album, Anané expresses herself in her native Cape Verdian language, English, and French on bossa-flavored cuts "Nos Vida (Our Life)" and "Ma Mi Mama (With My Mommy)", as well as in the sexy spoken word collaboration with Dimitri From Paris on "Mon Amour (My Love)." and Ursula Rucker on "Journey?s Prelude".
"As a longtime Louie fan, I keep wanting to give this CD the benefit of a doubt but finally parted ways with it much like an old girlfriend you keep trying to come back to. For anyone interested, it lies along the I-4 corridor along the outskirts of Orlando. Amidst all the hype, I was filled with anticipation about this new product that Louie was about to deliver and the ethereal title, "Elements of Life" added to the excitement. I
had been hearing Brand New Day & Elements of Life on cable radio and although not taken aback by either of the two, thought that the album was sure to be filled with gems the likes of which we hadn't heard since River Ocean, the Bounce or Nuyorican Soul. Unfortunately, that was not to be the case. In a nutshell, as with most of the House music out there, these tracks lack balls w/the exception of the Salsa based Quimbombo & 2 tribal chants Sunshine and Canto a Chango. The single Elements of Life along with the other silly Brazilian influenced pieces are 5-10 years late and his "muse", aka new wife is definitely no India.
Where is the rawness, verve, attitude that dominated MAW? Is this what happens when house artists begin their crossover trek? A peer of mine stated House was not meant for the masses, it was our thing. Once that 'our thing' was lost, so was the soul of House. Another dispels that notion and says that the true element missing from this CD is Kenny D. Nevertheless, @$10-15 I say less hype and more "Voice Inside of Me"!
For those wanting to join my despair, if you see any glitter in the road it's not gold but rather the abandonment of mediocre House CD's... such is life - Peace."
The Blessed One...
K. Turner | 04/11/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mr. Vega is INCREDIBLE! A GENIUS, The Miles Davis of Dance Music, and an AMAZING DJ/Producer...He and his other half Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez have created some of the classiest, sophisticated and stylish music that could only come from New York. Some of the people he has worked with include: Luther Vandross, Kenny Lattimore, Stephanie Mills, India, George Benson, Dave Valentin, Roy Ayers, Jocelyn Brown, Pattie Austin, James Ingram, BeBe Winans, and so on and on...Let me tell you right now that if your collection does not also include.."Nuyorican Soul - CD", "Masters at Work - 10th Anniversary - Part 1 - 1990-1995 -CD"& "Masters at Work - 10th Anniversary - Part 2- 1996-2000 CD" then I must tell you right now that your collection is missing something really, really special. Peace...Virgil"
Awesomely superb!
K. Turner | baltimore | 11/12/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This one on the best mixed CD's incorporating a buffet of musicial ecstacies. Louie, you have out done yourself once again. Very proud to play this cd for all my non-house-head friends. They have no choice but to embrace the universal soul and spirit of this music. Always a New Yorker in the House!!"
GENIUS AT WORK...!
Rafael Cova | Caracas, Venezuela | 08/09/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"A rich mix of his unbeatable garage songs, South American enriched house and real latin flavours, it collects previous 12" only classics such as "Brand New Day" and the title track, much of Louie's Vega Records output and loads of new music. The album features an unrivaled group of friends, from New Jersey garage supremos Blaze, singer / guitarist Raul Midon and Louie's wife Anane plus a host of players.
Another great and beautiful record, if you feel connected with Latin House music, there is a perfect example here, Elements of Life, keeps the dancefloor in mind, but moves far beyond it. He created with a nine-piece band and vocalists, including Ursula Rucker, Anane, Blaze with his fantastic "Elements of Life" in original 12" extended version, Jose Luis Pardo from "Los Amigos Invisibles" (Caracas FOREVER!!!), Raul Midon and salsa sensation Domingo Quinones (who sings a tribute to Vega's late uncle, former salsa star Hector Lavoe). The song Elements of Life was created years ago and then he created a whole album out of that sound. This album is a little deeper, that reflects more spiritualism, unifying cultures and basically celebrates life. Precious, really wonderful."