Search - Soul Ballet :: Dial It in

Don't Dial It Out!

David Powell | BALTIMORE, MARYLAND USA | 03/03/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Soul Ballet (aka Rick Kelly) new cd "Dial It In" is by far the weakest of his four releases. Two of cuts on this cd - "Dial It In" and "Ahh Girl" - has the worst sounding tenor and alto saxophone playing I have heard in quite a while. Rick, you need a new saxophone player (no more Caroline Kafer on sax please)."I Feel the Love" is a pop song (not jazz) sung by Sera-Lynn which is completely out of place on this cd. This song belongs on some future movie soundtrack. And now on to cuts where Rick gets it right!"Nu Funk City" is completely outstanding. Ken Ross's flugelhorn and trumpet is right there front and center. Rick puts a little guitar in the mix and its pretty good. Other excellent cuts are "Want You" and "Feeling the Beat". "Long Deep Kisses", "1 Track Mine", "What was.." and "All About The Night" are good.This is a good little smooth/funky jazz cd but not his best. The sax on this cd is just simply awful. Rick's unique and signature jazz sound is still present and was not completely undermined by the awful sax playing."