Sunlight by Chris Standring Album Info
With that unmistakable Chris Standring aura, and an unashamedly joyful vibe, his brand new CD, ‘Sunlight’, could not be more aptly titled. Indeed from his early days as part of Solar System (a duet project with long time collaborator Rodney Lee) and then through a succession of attention grabbing albums Standring has carved out a unique place in the annals of contemporary jazz. Often soulful, always compelling and disposed from time to time to weave orchestral tapestries into his guitar driven melodies he is a performer who never disappoints. Consequently it should be no surprise that ‘Sunlight’, even at this early stage, seems destined to become one of the best recordings of the year. Take for example the opening track, the vibrant ‘Static In The Attic’ that is textbook Standring and then some. It features a Fender Rhodes solo from Rodney Lee and with longtime sideman Andre Berry holding it down on bass this is a song that looks certain to dominate the airwaves for a considerable slice of 2018. Indeed for ‘Sunlight’ Standring has gathered together some of the genre’s finest musicians including drummers Chris Coleman and Dave Karasony, bass players Jimmy Haslip and Roberto Vally, keyboard players Mitch Forman and John Novello, sax players Pete Christlieb and Brandon Fields plus, notably, the legendary Bob James who adds a fine piano solo to the wonderful ‘The Revisit’. Standring even finds time for a carefully crafted cover of the Beachboys classic ‘God Only Knows’ which, predictably, he makes sound brand new yet it is with his own compositions that ‘Sunlight’ really comes to life. A case in point is the decidedly feel good ‘Like Paradise’ that shimmers like light on water and when the tempo eases just slightly the result is the mellifluous ‘Moon Child’. Elsewhere the complex but entirely accessible ‘The Principle Of Pleasure’ will find favor with serious jazz lovers everywhere and although ‘Do Not Adjust Your Set’ is lifted by an infusion of horns from Christlieb and Fields more of that classic hallmark Standring sound comes in the form of the edgy ‘Aphrodisiac’ where the contribution of Foreman on Fender Rhodes is considerable. ‘Love Street’ turns out to be replete with more of that Chris Standring easy grooving magic yet in terms of personal favorites it is very difficult to ignore the deliciously soulful ‘No Explanation’, which finds British soul diva Mica Paris in outstanding form on vocals. ‘Sunlight’ will be released on March 23 and comes highly recommended.
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