Soul Express Album Review PETER MICHAEL ESCOVEDO: US J Muzic, 2006 1) I Thank Ya 2) It's Up Yo You 3) That's The Way It Goes 4) Ghetto Mambo 5) Sunshine 6) I'm On Fire 7) Circle In A Square Peg 8) All Up In Your Mind 9) Soulmate 10) Moments No prizes for who's offspring this is! No prizes, also for hazarding a guess that this gentleman has talent in abundance as he is the fruit of the great Escovedo musical tree which also has given us percussionist Pete Escovedo and the ultra sexy Sheila E. This bubbling and heady album is a tasteful mix of soulful jazz with a Latin flavour. Some of this would appeal to more open-minded US radio stations and definitely would hit the spot within Latin quarters within the US. There are a multitude of songs here that are excellent, and so more than merit this CD as a solid purchase. Joining Peter on this album is a tasty tyrade of the great and the soulful, and I think you'll agree with me that these good folks can do nought but suggest that the songs on here are pure quality. Bridget Bryant adds her vocal talents and Gerald Albright, Paul Jackson Jr, Wayne Linsey and Ronnie Foster among others pitch in with their individual skills. The opening song, “I Thank Ya”, is a robust Latin soul effort that begs airplay; not my overall favourite cut but an impressive slice of passionate Latin music nonetheless. The song that will floor a lot of readers will be the superb “It's Up To You” which is in the Pete Balasco bag with a twist of Kem and Marlon Saunders. This song will be heading straight for the iPod! Quality Time afficianados will really appreciate this... the flute, when that apperas, takes us to another level. This is EXACTLY the sort of material that I want to hear in 2007. Similarly, the pondering “Sunshine” grabs you with both hands. This song has a more programmed feel, but the basic, stripped down backing, timbales, fender rhodes and Stevie-like harmonica. I can imagine Eric Benét doing something like this. “Circle In A Square Peg” also could be a Benét song from his “A Day In The Life” album, and deserves serious radio play. In the good old days before the lunatics took over the Asylum, records like this would have had exposure and been hits. The uptempo, jazzy “Soulmate” echoes Jeff Lorber in his more soulful moments a la “West Side Stories”. Paul Jackson Jr works very well on this and I only wish he would adopt more material like this on his own albums. What works very nicely is the cool soulful bossa of “Moments”. Those keys take me right back to the early 80s, and Peter's smooth, smooth vocals do nothing but justice to it. I think this is a real gem of an album, and if you like more ardant Latin material then there is also that too. Please check out Peter on MySpace and if you like what you see head off to his label's website at www.lacorpamuzic.com. -Barry Towler The Latest CD Reviews Albums of the Month in 2008 Albums of the Month in 2007 Albums of the Month in 2006 Albums of the Month in 2005 Albums of the Month in 2004 Albums of the Month in 2003 Albums of the Month in 2002 Albums of the Month in 2001 Albums of the Month in 2000 Albums of the Month in 1999 Albums of the Month in 1998 Albums of the Month in 1997 |