Search - Joe Sample :: Soul Shadows

Someone who took the dare

Joe Junkie | Europe | 12/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have been an avid Joe Sample fan for years. I was quite delighted and astounded by this CD. It is a BIG departure from the type of music that he is known for playing. I for one enjoyed it very much. Nowadays, music of all types is so "cookie-cutterish" that it is boring. Musicians no longer dare to stray from their comfort zone or should I say the Music execs and general buying public's comfort zone.



For me, this CD illustrates Joe Sample's true talent, creativity and genius. His rendention of Avalon is beyond words.

I appluaded Joe Sample for taking the dare and showing us "what he is truly made of"!!!!!!! I wish that more musicians would bare their souls as Joe Sample has."

Taking the past into the future

T. Bekken | Austmarka Norway | 03/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Joe Sample has always been an accomplished musician, as a member of The Crudaders, or as a solo artist. However, many of his albums have been too slick for their own good, and not always cutting edge achievements. This solo piano record is just that; a stunning, cutting edge achievement. Sample takes old, worn-out material and reinvents the songs into something startlingly fresh, modern and fascinating. His stride style is reminiscent of the late Willie 'The Lion' Smith - fluent and easy, with just the right amount of swing and energy to make it totally commanding. His reworkings of warhorses like 'The Entertainer', 'It's a Sin To Tell a Lie', 'Avalon' etc bring these old standards into our time - and even further into the future. The whole disc proves that no music is too old or forever lost to the passing winds of fashion as long as somebody is willing to take it seriously and reinterpret it with the modern listener in mind."

Spontaneous and totally unpredictable

P. Masuda | Encino, CA | 12/26/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, I too was totally shocked by Joe's departure from the

smooth jazz/fusion/soul/r&b style that has made him a legend

for the past 30 years or more!! However, I acquired a taste

for his completely fresh approach to ragtime, stride, and

early jazz classics! He is totally unpredictable in his

arrangements and interpretations of this standards. There

is no way you can listen and say, oh, yeah, lounge music,

I get the idea. You may even take some time to get used to

how he has treated these great tunes. But Joe has always

been an original, never a copier, and he is always thoughtful

and philosophical in his approach. I would love to see him

perform these songs live, I know it would be entertaining!"