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 Ronny Jordan A brighter day Blue Note CD
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Finally (gasp) ! Ronny Jordan grabs his guitar again, invites a pack of fellow artists and turns channel 6 (lead guitar) of the studio mixer way up. After four long years of touring and composing, the master of the jazz guitar releases a new album, the sequel to the rather raw and r'n b flavoured 'Light To Dark'. After being recognized by the entire jazzfunk scene as n° 1, the fact that this album is being released on the legendary Blue Note label, shows that the entire jazz scene has recognized the man's talent. RJ plays the guitar from since he was four years old and the fact that he does everything with ease (is that an improvisation there ?) sure contributes to the superb 'laziness' this album breathes through all of its fourteen tracks. Blue Note ? A title like 'A brighter day' ? Laziness ? Do I sound mellow or what ? Indeed, RJ is back on the smooth tip, but not without some updates for a new millenium : mc vocals with Mos Def ('brighter day remix'), Dj Spinna scratching (on 'mackin') and ticklah with some neat keyboard effects (on 'why'). One never has to fear that those 'gangsters' (compared to our friendly and mellow ronny-boy) will turn the jazzy feelin' into scrap (like some wannabe jazzy hiphoppers -no names mentioned- would). They blend in perfectly with the tone set by the master. Especially the remix of the title track with Mos Def manages to catch all the warmth and funkiness of the original. But no future without a past. 'Breauxlude' is a tribute to guitarist Zachary Breaux (also played with Roy Ayers) who recently died. Roy Ayers himself also tumbles down the studio stairs to play the vibes on his own original 'Mystic Voyage' (from the same album with the Roy's Ubiquity Crew). Too bad it doesn't really improve the original, there was more in it there, I believe. And while we're critizing anyway (which is the hardest part of any review, anyone and even I can say 'I like it') : the cover is a bit too flashy, not 'black' enough and no one needs those 'including blablabla remix by blablabla the hit single blablabla... stickers on the box, they are a pain in the ass to get off if you don't have long fingernails. (you can see how much I hate critizing someone like RJ since this critique is really stupid) Overall : 'a brighter day' is very rj for sure, no drastic change of style (in this sense 'light to dark' was more innovating but also less jazzy). It pays tribute to the classic guitar players like Wes Montgomery or Lee Ritenour, but somewhere, somehow, with a very contemporary touch. I've said it before and I will say it again : Ronny Jordan is the perfect bridge from Larry Young to the Brand New Heavies. The link between old-skool jazz of the sixties and the acid-jazz revival of the nineties. Oh yeah, my favorite track is 'London Lowdown' because it's the most funky track of all... Ronny Jordan : putting the funk in Blue Note ! (Next time I promise my review will contain less text between parentheses, on the other hand : it makes you want to stop reading and start listening !) outspan april00 |