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“Reach For The Sky" on the now renown
smooth Jazz Heads Up label may be a tad light and ‘extra smooth’
for the traditional purist, or for those who appreciate their music
with bite. But if you do appreciate the quieter moments and revel
in taking time to reflect you will enjoy this set.
Assisted with generous musical input from other respected fusion
jazzers such as Kirk Whallum, Jeff Lorber, Earl Klugh and Paul Jackson
Jr. Zonic’s sweet engaging flute flies freely and effortlessly
throughout every track. While listening to "Angela" (The
theme from taxi), you can really romanticise about that famous scene
of that old Yellow cab cruising across the Manhattan Bridge.
Zonjic’s snake charmer like flute coupled
with Wendy Moten’s unassuming vocal performance on “Far
Away” give this track a magical innocence. I pressed the fast
forward button as soon as the track faded hoping for more tasteful
vocal collaborations. I was just as content to soak up Zonjic’s
mesmerising flute once I discovered that the rest of the album consisted
of mainly instrumentals, with the occasional backing vocals.
Lay back and massage your wary thoughts away with
the track “Bellavia”. Though this is a Chuck Mangione
composition, Zonjic makes it his own by easily delivering the many
layers and textures this composition commands. In fact this CD has
enough well delivered popular cover versions for Zonjic to be given
the title ‘The Cover King’, though the Lennon &
McCartney offering of “A Hard Day's Night” does sound
a little contrived. And “Amazing Grace” is difficult
to stomach if you have heard Marcus Miller’s cover from the
excellent “M2” album first.
This album has a delicate long lasting charm, which
washed over me from the very start. Like many intricately laced
less directly slamming’ recordings, this album needs the right
company
(if invited) and the right environment to be appreciated. Fortunately
I have invested much time and patience in creating such an environment.
So after a hectic noise polluted day I look forward to the peace
this album has to offer.
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