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Lynn Riley Releases Too Cool
- Artist(s):
- Genre: Jazz - Smooth
- Personnel:
Lynn Riley – saxophones, Rubin Edwards – bass, Donna Bostock – congas and percussion on “Missing”, Alex Bouno – guitar, Brian Bostock – acoustic guitar, Sam Kalter – congas and percussion on “Tierra del Sol”, Russ Ferrara – acoustic guitar on “Pamela”, Kim Smith – vocals
- Tracks:
Too Cool, Missing You, Grover’s Groove, Island Breeze, Sedona, Crawfish Creole, Tierra del Sol, Oasis, Tag You’re It, Pamela
Lynn Riley shows that not all saxophonists are created equally. Her new CD, Too Cool is a fusion of Latin dance, reggae-funk, and smooth jazz transporting listeners into easy listening terrain weaving traits shared by multiple cultures. Whether Riley is taking audiences into the bosom of Spanish flamenco dance or the illusion of calming Caribbean grooves, the songs are sautéed in music based in diverse traditions constructing ambient gales terraced by the gentle wails of Riley’s saxophone. The result produces complementing aspects that make Riley’s album sail easily.
The R&B swagger of Riley’s saxophone in “Sedona” plows placid ripples along the chord progressions changing to a reggae saunter in “Island Breeze”. Riley pays homage to Grover Washington Jr. in the spirited flexing of her saxophone through “Grover’s Groove”, and switches to a warm flutter in the flamenco drenched “Tierra del Sol”. The smooth soul polish on “Oasis” and “Pamela” is beaconed by softly feathered notes while the funky twirls of Riley’s saxophone in “Tag You’re It” vines a frolicking swishing in the melodic patterns.
Whether Riley’s saxophone clings to the rhythmic motions or floats above the pulsating beats, she sculpts the tracks to project a world music mix. Coalescing old school jazz with progressive motifs and free-flowing improvisations, Too Cool is an album that melds classic regimes with modern expressions. The songs illustrate Lynn Riley’s talent for absorbing the music of multiple cultures and shaping the patterns to suit her own style.
