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Review of Beautiful Evil |
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It’s pretty darn hard for me to have a favorite album, or to latch on to one that is hard to put away. I have a complicated taste in music in that I can and do like various styles. Blues, rock and roll, jazz and funk. Beautiful Evil is so different from mainstream anything, that it immediately captured my attention. While there isn’t any rock and roll to be found on this album, it is full of jazz, blues and pure funkiness.
The vocals on Beautiful Evil are a treat. It’s not often I have found a jazz guitarist who sings as Gary does on this album. His smooth, easy going vocals capture you and pull you into the song. The backing vocals are nothing short of incredible. I can’t think of any other group who has a style as unique as this. This is not a safe album. Personally, I think Gary and his group took many chances to make Beautiful Evil the masterpiece it is. Blending different styles so flagrantly, utilizing smooth vocals, contrasted with hip back up vocals are a perfect example. It is obvious all the musicians talents were utilized to great effect. Gary smooth comping and leads are there alright, but it seems he holds back some in order to let the uniqueness of this album come alive. Truly, if he had made himself the absolute focal point, I think we would have just another jazzy album. So I have to give a great kudos to him for his production of the album as well. If you are tired of the same old thing these days, do yourself a favor and immediately run out and get yourself a copy of this 5 star album. Marsh Bruehl Old Fox Trail Music Gazette |
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Review of Beautiful Evil By Greg Everett What a nice song - great light jazzy/bluesy feel with a latin touch. I loved it and I was wishing I could hear more. The production was good with great separation of all the parts allowing you to hear most everything. The female voices come through with clarity and nicely above the rest of the mix so they don't get lost - great tone and feel. Right hand octaves playing a melody while playing rhythmic left hand chords on the piano, combined with interesting inversions on the guitar created an easy to listen to, moody texture. I loved the tone and the fullness of the accoustic bass and what I heard of the drums was excellent. Oh, and by the way, the sax soloing in the background was tastfully soulful, interesting and enjoyable. Overall this is a really wonderful song and the blend of everything was in the groove and relaxingly moody (is relaxingly a word? I really thoroughly enjoyed it. |