Philly Style

Philly Style

ASIN: B00008H2JK

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Over the last decade, noted keyboard whiz Jeff Lorber has helped to fix Los Angeles as the locus of smooth-jazz sound. His geographical musical roots, however, stem from the historic wealth of jazz and soul he heard growing up in Philadelphia. With neo-soul all the rage at home, Lorber shows he's developed the same strain naturally in L.A., as his West Coast crew effortlessly plunders those grooves on "Uncle Darrow's," "Under Wraps," and the too-funky "Regardless Of," featuring singer Naila sounding a lot like Remy Shand. Over the last four releases, Lorber has had no stability with record labels, but in that time the consistent quality of his music has been higher than when he had long-term deals with Arista and Verve. Each record, in fact, has gotten better. This is Lorber at the top of the smooth-jazz game. The ballads here--"When She Smiles," and especially the laid-back "Laissez Faire"--are among the prettiest he's ever written, and of course it wouldn't be a Lorber record without great saxophone performances--and Gary Meek and Richard Elliot both deliver. --Mark Ruffin

Philly Style,Jeff Lorber,Narada,Contemporary Jazz,Jazz,Jazz Music,Pop,Smooth Jazz

Average customer rating:

still kicking it

beyond comparison

A memorable collection of jazz fusion

2 plus 2 equals Jeff Lorber

The most funky, white dude I've ever heard!

Philly Style
Jeff Lorber
Manufacturer: Narada
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00008H2JK
Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

Under Wraps
Gigabyte
Regardless Of
Philly Style
Soul Food
Laissez Faire
Step On It
Uncle Darrow's
When She Smiles
Serpentine Lane

Amazon.com

Over the last decade, noted keyboard whiz Jeff Lorber has helped to fix Los Angeles as the locus of smooth-jazz sound. His geographical musical roots, however, stem from the historic wealth of jazz and soul he heard growing up in Philadelphia. With neo-soul all the rage at home, Lorber shows he's developed the same strain naturally in L.A., as his West Coast crew effortlessly plunders those grooves on "Uncle Darrow's," "Under Wraps," and the too-funky "Regardless Of," featuring singer Naila sounding a lot like Remy Shand. Over the last four releases, Lorber has had no stability with record labels, but in that time the consistent quality of his music has been higher than when he had long-term deals with Arista and Verve. Each record, in fact, has gotten better. This is Lorber at the top of the smooth-jazz game. The ballads here--"When She Smiles," and especially the laid-back "Laissez Faire"--are among the prettiest he's ever written, and of course it wouldn't be a Lorber record without great saxophone performances--and Gary Meek and Richard Elliot both deliver. --Mark Ruffin

Customer Reviews:

still kicking it.......2007-05-20

Kickin'it was the Bomb and Philly Style kicks it even more so you don't forget that Mr.Lorber is the numero uno of Smooth Jazz.

beyond comparison.......2004-05-15

I've been JL fans for more than 15 years.When I first heard this, I was totally amazed with his superb control of his total sound designs.Philly soul provides us with the best performance
of JL ever.Sensible touch and cool funky vibration is the trade mark of JL.No other keyboardist can play better than JL.I mean his pop sensibility and his sweet melodies. Keep pushing JL.
I've been waiting for your next album.

A memorable collection of jazz fusion.......2004-01-14

Grammy-nominated keyboardist Jeff Lorber presents Philly Style, a memorable collection of jazz fusion that pays special homage to the Philadelphia roots of this composer and performer. Warm emotion and exciting flurries of complexity spring forth in fast-paced and rhythmic celebration. The tracks comprising Philly Style include: Under Wraps (4:54), Gigabyte (3:52), Regardless Of (4:25), Soul Food (4:09), Laissez Faire (3:52), Step On It (4:06), Uncle Darrow's (3:51), When She Smiles (4:45), Serpentine Lane (4:46), and the title piece Philly Style (4:04).

2 plus 2 equals Jeff Lorber.......2003-12-29

If you do the math, Jeff Lorber is undeniably one of the contemporary masters of fusion (a jazz genre combining the energy of rock with the improvisation that characterizes jazz). Lorber continues to move ahead melodically at the same time that he returns to his roots in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, on his eighteenth album since 1977.

Jeff definitely has a winner with this CD. Lorber, a keyboardist par excellence, does on this release what he has been doing for decades...making great music. While he has always favored the texture of the Fender Rhodes electric piano, on this disc Lorber puts together some really fine and classy piano playing on a so-called "acoustic piano" (the kind of piano made famous by Steinway, Baldwin and Benoit).

Other "Philly" natives collaborating with Jeff on this disc are producer and keyboardist/drum programmer Steve Dubin and drummer "Little John" Roberts. Throughout this CD, the widely regarded bassist Alex Al puts down a bass line that is pure funk.

While every tune is worthy of a little description, the high points begin with "Under Wraps." An irony of the title is that after this CD was released, Lorber's fine collaboration with Richard Elliot on this tune would no longer be a secret. This song is full of funk and soul and serves as a truly excellent introduction to the good vibes that come shining through the rest of the album.

"Philly Style," the title song, is played with some excellent keyboarding by Lorber and a really funkalicious horn arrangement.

"Soul Food" is truly a Philadelphia mainstay. This song proves that man does not live by bread alone but also by Lorber's Fender Rhodes doing a duet with the sax and featuring vocalist Naila.

"Laissez Faire" is characterized by the coolness and laid-back style that has always epitomized Jeff Lorber's jazz improvisation.

"When She Smiles" is a hauntingly beautiful ballad that settles into a really mellow groove. Some might characterize it as a love song and it could be. As you listen to the most excellent acoustic piano styling, this tune seems to capture the reflection of the famous Schuylkill River sliding and gliding along it's path through this neck of Penn's woods.

Ending it all, chronologically speaking, is the outstanding "Serpentine Lane" that is Lorber fusion at its best. This song, the second longest on the CD, captures a whole host of Philadelphia influence within its length. It is worth the wait.

As for the cover art...the soft pretzel. It's been said that buying a soft pretzel from a street vendor in Philly is truly throwing caution to the wind. There they are, stacked one on top of the other on a dowel rod exposed to the elements. A little crusty on the outside while soft with a hint of sweetness in the middle. Like the salt that covers them, Jeff Lorber has NOT lost his savor.

The most funky, white dude I've ever heard!.......2003-09-28

This album is da'bomb. Jeff came with alot of Philly Soul. His style is new and refreshing to hear. Jeff gave me a reason to listen to my local Jazz Station. This Cd is something that may actually get more young people to want to hear smooth jazz. His neo-soul flavor is remarkable, and I hope that you will enjoy this album as much as I have.

Mama Kangaroos: Philly Women Sing Captain Beefheart

Average customer rating:

False alarm
a simple yet inspired concept
awesome tribute ......
A tribute album, yet much more

Mama Kangaroos: Philly Women Sing Captain Beefheart
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Genus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alternative Pop | Compilations | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Under Review

ASIN: B0009VF2OY
Release Date: 2005-06-07

Tracks:

Where Theres Woman (Sweetie)
The Past Sure is Tense (Winterbrief)
The Witch Doctor Life (Global Transmission)
Run Paint Run Run (Big Mess Orchestra)
Apes-Ma (Radio Eris)
Abba Zaba (Voices of Africa)
Sugar Bowl (Jane Gilday)
Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles (Faye Davis w/Skip Heller)
My Head is My Only House Unless It Rains (Nancy Falkow)
Crazy Little Thing (Mia Johnson w/Tom Gillam Band)
Lick My Decals Off Baby (Kiss Kiss Kill)
Party of Special Things to Do (Essra Mohawk w/EDO)
Safe As Milk (Take 3) (Hoppy The Frog)
When I See Mommy I Feel Like a Mummy (Tintinabulus)
Im Glad (Friends of Janet)
Ashtray Heart (Beware)
Frying Pan (Thorazine)
Plastic Factory (Lisa Christ Superstar)
Orange Claw Hammer (King of Siam)
Well (Nou Rock w/ Interplay)

Product Description

Mama Kangaroos features twenty emerging and established female artists from Philadelphia performing the songs of painter Don Van Vliet, the man better known as the legendary musician Captain Beefheart. The genre-hopping set covers material spanning the entirety of the Captain's 17 year recording career, while showcasing a diversity of talent and style that once again proves Philly to be one of the country's most vital music centers.

Customer Reviews:

False alarm.......2005-08-25

I don't know why I was under the impression that "Mama Kangaroos" was a choir and that "Philly Women Sing Captain Beefheart" would be a cappella... anyway - that is 0% the case.
I was terrified when I started listening to this disc because having listened through all of Captain Beefheart's discography hundreds of times, having read positive reviews of this album, and having appreciated other tributes like "Fast 'N' Bulbous" and the reunited Magic Band, I expected something quite different.
The first three tracks are driven by programmed drums. Credits are given for "remix," "drum machines" and "beats & programming." I'd expected something much rawer and something performed more in the spirit of Captain Beefheart's voice and/or rhythmic approach.
After the exhausting experience of having listened through the first three tracks, a little sunshine shined through the dark clouds; "Run Paint Run Run" at least had "real" instruments - not just keyboards and drum machines, but the lead vocalist didn't at all capture any essence of Beefheart's voice or timing, and occasionally, perhaps due to a lack of interest in the genius of the composer, lyrics are wrong.
"Abba Zaba" by "Voices of Africa" got me a bit more interested in the recording though. Now it finally started to sound like Don Van Vliet's music. A group of five female voices accompanied by sitar, mandolin and African percussion gave the song a nice flavor.
But the song ended and the clouds blocked out the light; "Sugar Bowl," which originally was a tune from the "Tragic Band" era, has been given a redneck-hippie feel. It's performed on banjo, fiddle and upright bass, and while the idea of such a line-up may sound interesting to some, don't bother to get your hopes up, 'less y'all be heavily into bluegrass.
There's nothing special about the performances on "Her Eyes Are a Blue Million Miles," "My Head is My Only House Unless It Rains" or "Crazy Little Thing" either - unfortunately they're just a bunch of mainstream performances that are far from the level of performance of the original recordings. For some reason "My Head" has also been given a Texas-feel by lap steel and violin.
Then comes the real tragedy - something that probably would offend Don Van Vliet if he ever heard it - "Lick My Decals Off Baby..." The song has been raped and abused by the group "Kiss Kiss Kill." Not one note of the original music is played by the barely mediocre trio of guitar, bass and drums that performs the song. The music reflects in no way upon the Captain Beefheart tune "Lick My Decals Off Baby." The only similar element is the words, but that's all - the melody is also new, and it really sounds like a cheap parody... and the show goes on that way; the subsequent tracks have also been heavily modified up until "When I See Mommy I Feel Like a Mummy," which instrumentally would be recognizable as the tune it's supposed to sound like, but it's not a very interesting listen throughout - it runs for 8 minutes and 50 seconds.
"I'm Glad" was, of course, no typical Magic Band tune, but it has been further transformed into a pathetic run-of-the-mill tune that you wouldn't be surprised hearing on some light AOR station.
"Ashtray Heart" is performed by an all-female rock group, which you can't help being reminded of the Courtney Love group "Hole" by. It sounds like the tune had been recorded in a huge hall before sound check, and the extremely punked up version of "Frying Pan" is not much different - I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I heard it...so I did neither.
"Plastic Factory" does not remind of the music of the original recording, "Orange Claw Hammer" is another "yee-haw" hillbilly tune...not worth comments...and "Well" has been given an ugly mess of reed instruments, guitar, percussion and samples, though originally recorded a cappella.
I don't know if so much of the music has been rewritten both instrumentally and vocally due to a low production budget (not enough money to buy rights,) or if this actually is the idea of a homage to Don Van Vliet by a group of people as big as the group of people involved in this project, but I'd be surprised if this album, in less than 9/10 cases, is not a huge disappointment to real Captain Beefheart fans (who might have expected reflections of his genius.) People who enjoy listening to pop-radio and/or are fans of some of these bands might enjoy these takes on these Beefheart tunes, but it is nevertheless scary to think that this album might be somebody's introduction to his music.
What is the point in trying to make his music more accessible by forcing it to sound commercial, when what Van Vliet wanted to do was to break up the catatonic state?
I understand of course, that this is not an attempt to copy his musical personality, but in order to celebrate it or make a homage to a living genius, this is not the way to go.
Though wry and awkward (with the exception of the only real high-light, "Abba Zaba,") you have to respect someone wanting to acknowledge people about Don Van Vliet's music and trying to keep it alive, so 2/5 stars is pretty fair for this album.

a simple yet inspired concept.......2005-08-09

To the diehard Beefheart fan it would be easy to dismiss this set as travesty and pure novelty, however this misses the point. Most of the reworkings on this set bring out nuances of the originals that are easily overlooked. For me the delight has been listening back to the originals through the different perspective offered by these 'cover versions'
Inevitably some pieces are less inspired than others, but overall there are enough highlights to please all but the most rabid of Beefheart fanatics
'Plastic Factory' as THE seminal piece of garage rock anyone?

awesome tribute .............2005-07-21

........to cap'n beefhart as well as to the philly music scene. The breadth of female talent in this city (and showcased on this album) is quite impressive.
well produced and very very good listening!

A tribute album, yet much more.......2005-06-19

Mama Kangaroo's is no collection of basement tapes, but a very smoothly produced set of fully realized tracks. A well-thought out selection of Beefheart songs, performed with skill and commitment by a grab-bag of female (well, mostly, sort of) artists from Philadelphia's often underrated music scene.

In style, they range from folk to funk to straight blues, to the spooky spoken rhythms of Apes-Ma (my first favorite). The best of these covers take Beefheart's songs in new directions, revealing his beautiful songwriting in a way that's more accessible than the originals but takes nothing away from them. There are few weak spots. The songs are respected at the same time that they are used as artistic vehicles for a new generation of artists with their own visions and styles, and that's what makes a tribute album more than a bunch of covers.

This is an excellent collection that only fails to get a full five-star rating because it is, after all, a collection and not a single conceptual whole by one artist. Highly recommended for Beefheart aficionados and novices alike.

Average customer rating:

Alfie

Manufacturer: Philly Through My Ear Productio
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAE0XQ
Release Date: 2003-04-08

Average customer rating:

Da Last Man Scramblin

Manufacturer: B.U
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA42QQ
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Average customer rating:

Urban Legends
High Risk Entertainment
Manufacturer: High Risk Entertainment
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA9XMO
Release Date: 2002-09-17

Average customer rating:

Dance of Light

Manufacturer: Barb Mazz
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Latin Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CAFHOM
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

Full Moon
Dance With Me
Beauty
Dance Me Higher
The Riverside
Dance of Light
Difficult
Love Must Fly
Textures of Love

Average customer rating:

Everybody Oughta Have One

Manufacturer: Philly Through My Ear Recording Label
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000CAH62I
Release Date: 2004-07-13

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Jazz Music

Jazz Music