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CD Review: Neamen – So Free
Contributors:
Wilbert Sostre
- Genre: Jazz - Modern
- Personnel:
Musicians: Neamen – alto saxophone, Brian Simpson – piano, Freddie Fox – guitar, Jay Soto – keyboards, Mel Brown – bass, Anthony Morra – bass, Darren Rahn – alto & tenor saxophone, Jason Rahn – trumpet, flugelhorn, Michael Broening – b3 synth, David Lancette, Jodi Light – vocals, Rayford Griffin – drums, Ray Reindeau - bass
- Tracks:
Tracks: Candy, Let’s Chill, Don’t say Goodbye, Who Dat, Remember the time, Thinking of you, Feels like heaven, Things change, Cooling the plasma
Out of Tucson, a place not usually related with jazz, comes a new face in the smooth jazz scene, saxophonist Neamen. All the elements of a good smooth jazz album are present in Neamen debut release So Free, a good balance of funky, danceable rhythms, on “Candy”, “So Free” and “Who Dat” romantic ballads like “Thinking of you” and accessible sax melodies all throughout. Jay Soto produced, plays guitar, keyboard and wrote most of the tracks except Michael Jackson’s “Remember the time”.
Neamen sound has influences of lots of smooth jazz musicians and groups, there are similarities to David Sanborn and Grover Washington among others in his music. So Free close with “Cooling the Plasma” the most interesting and adventurous piece on the album, a composition with fusion jazz elements and freer improvisations and also a very special guest, Jeff Lorber playing the Rhodes.
