Search - Raul Midon :: State of Mind

Jessica T. (jessicatok) from LINCOLN, NE
Reviewed on 5/6/2007...

Raul Midon is amazing! I recently heard him on tour with Jason Mraz, and the man's voice is lovely and soulful, as is his acoustic guitar playing. At first, I thought it would be a good background CD, but then I was stunned after listening through it. The first track, "State of Mind" catches you immediately, and oddly enough, the Jason Mraz track isn't my favorite. Standout track on this album is "Waited All My Life." It's absolutely gorgeous. Check this guy out and you won't be disappointed. Full of energy, sweet melodies and crushing emotion, this CD is one of my new favorites.

Amazing.

K. Smith | Nebraska | 06/29/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The ONE TIME TiVo lets me down. It failed to record Letterman last night for some reason. Good thing my insomnia kicked in and I stayed up and watched it anyway. This guy was INCREDIBLE. I have a fascination with amazing acoustic guitar playing and this was AMAZING. I would most describe it to be like a flamenco style. Incredible guitar talent. And the vocal trumpet thing? Awesome. When he played that guitar solo along with his "trumpet" solo it took me a second to figure out what was going on it was so seamless.



I had no idea the guy was actually BLIND until I started looking up everything I could find on the guy that was on the internet. I can't remember the last time seeing a musician perform on TV has had such an effect on me. First thing this morning I got up and went all over town hoping someone would have his CD (of course... nobody did). I gave up on the search for a little while, but just could not stop thinking about it. I eventually tracked down a copy (although it took a longer than I wanted - Borders calls it "R&B"... which I guess it could be, but it seems unfair to classify his music into such a 'neat' category).



One of my favorite songs so far is the second track, "If You're Gonna Leave," but they're all really solid songs. I don't want to do a play-by-play of the entire CD, but just know that the CD is pretty incredible. If you liked what you have seen on Letterman/Leno/etc. or heard on NPR, you're going to love this CD.



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I just came back on after having this CD for about two months because I wanted to give an update of sorts after having listened to this CD quite a bit. Honestly, I just enjoy the CD more and more each time I listen to it. I talk up Raul Midon's music pretty much any opportunity that I get, and I really hope that he becomes very successful. We need more musicians like him in the world... it just makes the world a better place to live :)"

AT LAST, SONGS!!! Expressions of Love! Mystery Girl!

Peter Lavezzoli | Ft. Lauderdale, FL USA | 06/30/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Of course I was anxiously awaiting the Letterman show, and Raul was as stunning as I expected! But folks, the song that he played, State of Mind, is only the tip of the iceberg. But first off, before I get to the artistry of Midon himself, let me praise this disc as an outstanding RECORDING. The production is perfectly understated but not bland, the placement order of the songs is very convincing, and the sound of Raul's voice and guitar comes through impeccably, so hats off to the great Arif Mardin for his production expertise. This recording succeeds on every level.



I've been seeing Raul for a few years now, and let me give some background. A native of New Mexico, blind from birth, Midon rose to the top of the jazz program at University of Miami, one of the most competitive programs in the world. I first saw Raul when he was still living and playing in Miami, and in those days he mixed his own unique R&B material with a healthy dose of serious jazz. This may not be apparent from this new CD, but let me say that Midon is one of the hottest acoustic guitarists in JAZZ...he would often sing a scat vocal of GIANT STEPS by Coltrane while ripping on the guitar at a level of virtuosity that is simply astonishing. He plays in the classical and flamenco style, and the jazz people at the University of Miami nicknamed him "Segovia." He also played as a member of Colombian singer Shakira's band on the road for some time, and he is a master of Afro-Latin rhythms, a formidable percussionist in his own right. He finally realized that NYC is the place for a musician of his calibre, and after moving there, he has astounded everyone.



So...we have a jazz and Latin music virtuoso who also happens to be one of the most soulful vocalists and songwriters out there. Raul Midon is a musician's musician, but he's also the non-musician's musician, with some of the best LOVE BALLADS you'll ever hear. Lyrically, he is nothing less than a Ray Of Sunshine, a true Brother Of The Light, bringing positivity, love, and light into this world. As a composer, he knows how to give each song its own unique twist. Although his writing is crafted in the R&B tradition of Stevie Wonder (who appears on this album) and Curtis Mayfield, he finds little ways to inject his jazz chops on the guitar: brief flashes of virtuosity (check the solo on Mystery Girl) and unusual chord progressions in the Steely Dan vein. Midon has had a full band in the past, but recently he has preferred to play as a solo acoustic artist. This CD is in that vein, and is well produced by Arif Mardin, who obviously understood that Midon would shine the brightest in an intimate acoustic setting.



Every track here is outstanding, but if I had to pick highlights, pay special attention to the closing track, All In Your Mind (a stunning look at life through the eyes of a blind person), or the song with Stevie Wonder's harmonica solo, which is Expressions of Love! Never mind Stevie, he's great on this, but the song itself is SO worthy of our attention...a song of hope and rebirth for those of us who have suffered in love. I've cried over this song, and that is a blessing. And the real classic LOVE BALLAD is the funky, soulful Mystery Girl...this is the one song that will knock you out completely. But again, every song is a gem. This is a formidable debut. I've been waiting for this CD for years, and even though I'm a longtime Midon fan, this disc has still exceeded my expectations. I'm going to have a hard time removing it from my player. The tasteful production and high quality of material stand up to repeated listenings. This is what real music sounds like. When music can bring tears and joy, you know it's real. And it's real Raul. We are all very fortunate that he has arrived, because I promise you that he is going to take us to some very beautiful places in the future where we need to go."