Music CD - Circle of the Sun

It is mostly thanks to John Jones that my interest in acid jazz or soul-jazz was kindled, with Incognito also being a recent favorite, along with the Brand New Heavies (or at least their former lead singer, N'Dea Davenport). Why on Earth Jazzhole hasn't received the kind of V.I.P. status those bands claim is a mystery for they have an equal ability at delivering a brand of jazz that is palatable both to casual (who might like a little R&B with their jazz) and avid (may be more traditional) fans. CIRCLE OF THE SUN should then appeal to even those musicgoers who are keen on finding the flavor of the month before diving into more lasting stuff.

The neo-soul fad may be starting to trickle out by now, but it's obvious that soul-jazz had a hand in unofficially creating that sub-genre, and Jazzhole helps prove that as many disciples as they spawn, the originals know how to do it the best. Songs like "Love Philosophy", "Who Do You Love", "A Little Dress For Mary" (a song about the joys of having a new baby rather than the usual subject matter involving a "baby's mama"), and "A Love Thing" are so undeniably catchy and sunny, one can not help but gently sway along to the music with a beaming smile on their face (like vintage soul music used to do). This is helped to no end by vocalist Marlon Saunders, whose solo album ENTER MY MIND just might be next on my "to-buy" list. Let's hope he works out just as well on his own as with the band. Marlon's other track "Winter's Melting" is more of an ambient tune that is equal parts new age and jazz that one can put on at the end of the day (repeat button recommended) and just drift off to.

Marlon Saunders may be the breakout star of Jazzhole (that's how things look, at least), but Kaissa Doumbe might have something going in her direction as well. She's out front singing the tribal-rhythmic "Ndolo", the bright and carefree title track (Marlon chips in here, too), and probably the album's masterstroke, a cover of Leon Russell's "Superstar" translated into Duala. Both Incognito and BNH often featured a touch of the "mother land" in their music, but Jazzhole seems to wear more of it on their sleeve, and Kaissa could very well follow in the footsteps of Angelique Kidjo on the Afro-Pop scene.

The two other vocal tracks have singers with a lot of promise as well, but perhaps a little more exposure on the next Jazzhole album will make solo possibilities more likely. Michelle Lewis does complete wonders with her rendition of Depeche Mode's classic "Enjoy The Silence", but replacing the original's synth-driven instrumentation with a more Indian-flavored beat is an excellent method I'm sure the guys in Mode couldn't have thought of beforehand. If Michelle is given more songs to demonstrate her talents on, she has the goods to go forward. "Three Days" features Spanish singer Lucia Iman on a song about the time-honored subject of being away from the one you love, but knowing you'll be coming home to them soon enough. Indeed, if Sade was a much more prolific artist, she could have conjured this one up.

The instrumentals show that Jazzhole isn't just a gaggle of singers with able musicians backing them up. "Um Ritmo No Meu Sono" is an almost indescribable blend of Latin and African, yet either way the urge to dance is inescapable, even for an eternally left-footed soul like me. "Winter's Melting" is almost all instrumental, but there is the occasional instance of Marlon Saunders turning his voice into yet another instrument to accent the atmosphere created by the song. "Horn Interlude" struck me as the only sour grape in an otherwise delicious bunch in that it's only 2 minutes long, meaning just as you're getting into it, it's on to the next track. Perhaps a slight lengthening could have turned into a proper song.

While I may have a certain old guy-sense in my musical choices, I still believe there are some younger artists who can keep the music fresh while still not neglecting where the music once went. The whole genre of soul-jazz might be an example of this, but even there are some visionaries for newer ones to look up to, and Jazzhole definitely is one of them. CIRCLE OF THE SUN never fails to look back to the music's past, while at the same time taking it in new or under-used directions. As the mainstream music scene continues to become more about what sells rather than what lasts, albums like CIRCLE OF THE SUN and bands like Jazzhole will be an example of the wonders music can do without any regard for the bottom line.

Although the group is called Jazzhole, the music on here isn't strictly jazz. It's more like jazz sprinkled with neo-soul. And there are plenty of good examples of that on here, like "A Little Dress For Mary", "Love Philosophy", and "Who Do You Love".

The group also does well with remakes. I know some people may be tired of hearing covers of The Carpenters' "Superstar" (no, Luther fans, he did NOT make that song first), but this version is really good. And I'm not exactly sure why they chose to remake Depeche Mode's "Enjoy The Silence", but they do a good job on that too.

There really isn't anything wrong with this album, although some people may wonder why they would need guest vocals on "Three Days" when there are already 12 people in the band. Oh well, do what everyone advised you to do and pick this album up.

Anthony Rupert