Terry Callier Is Alive and Kicking
Paul Rosner | Charlottesville, VA | 08/16/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"On his latest release, Alive, singer/songwriter Terry Callier shows off his considerable talent as a storyteller. On "Lament To The Late A.D.," Callier tackles an emotion-drenched topic, the recent tragic death of Amadou Diallou at the hands of New York City's police: "New York, New York, I thought I could depend on you." This song screams with disappointment and loss, telling us how the writer has been devastatingly let down by the Big Apple.Throughout Alive, Callier's backup band is near flawless, jumping from up-tempo swing in the opener to a mild-mannered jazz/soul fusion in "Step Into The Light," a harrowing tale of gangland violence. Callier's expressive and theatrical voice is reminiscent of the finest dramatic jazz storyteller of the early '60s, Oscar Brown. Check out Terry Callier's fine new album for a completely unique look at the world."