Search - Narada Michael Walden :: Confidence

Confidence Is In Being

Andre S. Grindle | Brewer Maine | 01/08/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Albums like this are why CD reissues exist and why Wounded Bird are so important. There are handfulls of classics from the jazz-funk-R&B world in the 70's and 80's that are definately lost classics and many with huge commercial potencial that never came close to getting it.Narada Michael Walden's 1982 date 'Confidance' is among them.It did okay on the R&B side of things but is barely acknowledged in the pop world-his pop productions during this time for Stacy Lattisaw and later Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin are. This album begins with the hefty funk jam "Your #1"-one of the best slices of funk Narada ever threw down!"Summer Lady" has yet more of that heavy 80's funk throb to it before again returning to the breezy and inspiring urban soul sound of "I'm Ready". The title track goes to the same place with great verve and style! The presense of jazz and fusion icons Randy Brecker,David Sanborn and the immortal Wayne Shorter really showcase Narada as the successor to Norman Connors;drummer and great assembler of talent. Another truely impressive track to be found here is the the closer "Blue Side Of Midnight",a moody romantic smooth groove with some creamy sax from Sanborn and a great otherworldy guitar solo from Corrado Rustici! 'Confidance' is absolutely no misnomer;Narada delivers everything here with sincerity,conviction and so many hard-driving grooves to make you bug!"