JAZZ ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
COMING SOON.....ARTIST INTERVIEWS
JOEY SOMMERVILLE
Like You Mean It
Like You Mean It is
a descriptive title for this CD because Joey Sommerville plays the
trumpet as if he really does mean it with every note. He also shows us
his versatility by playing keys, acoustic guitar and bass. The man has
his groove in more than one area.
Some
special guests appear on the release including Phil Davis (keys),
Wayman Tisdale (bass), Marion Meadows (soprano sax) and Phil Perry
(vocals). They all contribute nicely to the overall production and
compliment Sommerville’s trumpet playing suitably.
The
opening track “Johannesburg” is befitting the name. The harmonies in
between the music reminded me of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. ”Follow Me”
has a smooth jazz and contemporary sound with a funky backbeat that
stays with you and appeals to your sensibilities and inner
funk-jazz-fusion child to give it another spin. “School Boy Crush” is
spotlight time for Mr. Wayman Tisdale on bass. Does he ever lay down a
funk-filled beat on this track and he doesn’t take too much away from
the star of the show on the horn even though the bass is so strong that
it sounds like the lead instrument. In the same instance, they do a
call-and-answer on their respective instruments and follow each other
very well. My favorite track is the title cut, which is currently
burning its way into people’s ears as I write. Earmarked for a single,
it is a splendid opportunity for people to get an introduction to some
of the hottest jazz beats hitting the airwaves right now.
You
not only hear jazz, there is some blues and even some reggae
interspersed amongst everything else, “House of Gold” being a primary
example. To say this release is musically divergent is quite an
understatement. You will also hear some familiar tunes such as “My
Father’s Eyes” and “School Boy Crush” (The Average White Band version
may come to mind).
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