The world of leon ware and marvin gaye
eugene | 07/18/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"(This is second review, first was not complete before I accidently sent it.) As stated the album tracks keep coming at you taking you higher and higher from the beginng track to the end of the album.The first time I heard this album I thought I was listening to marvin gaye,not realizing that leon and marvin had known each other for quite some time,that this same leon wrote and sang on the"I want you".album with marvin releasted in 1976.Its really a shame because of fate that they hadn't collaberated on more projects together.Getting back to leon.this album has stood the test of time and sounds like it was recorded last week.Thats the difference between classic soul and some of todays music.It is my sincerest hope that leon will one day come to the Berkeley bay area and perform, we all know he's also a great producer!with all my love to leon ware fans. Eugene F.Evans"
Unheralded , underappreciated, and almost forgotten....
Peppino | 10/29/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
".......Again, it takes JAPAN to release a cd , as the American music industry neglects musics with "limited commercial potential".As noted Leon Ware was the producer & architect of one of Marvin Gaye's finest lp/cds, "I WANT YOU", which Mr.Ware composed & produced, for the most part.I imagine soon , some of the new wave of young "Brasilianists" will soon check this cd out-- current FAVORITE of the "world music club scene" Marcos Valle was a collaborator with Ware in the early 80s.
("Rockin You Eternally" was a modest hit for the two, and much of the currently unavaliable Marcos Valle lp "A Vontade de Rever Voce" features 4 0f the 8 tunes cowritten by Ware/Valle.)This cd, release in 1982 features contributions from Valle(co-writer of 3 songs), Janice Seigel from Manhattan Transfer, Bill Champlin(Sons of Champlin/Chicago) and Airto Moreira/Flora Purim,( a real treat on 1 track!).(Percussionist Laudir de Oliveira was the "broker" that brought Airto and Valle's talent to Leon Ware,and also the rock group "Chicago" later !)This cd may be TOO SLICK productionwise for some, I thought so when it was released as an lp almost 20 yrs ago-- what with the same L.A. session guys everyone was using at that time. (most notably by Steely Dan in the "Aja" fase).Why do I enjoy Leon Ware, and why is he so "unknown"??
I think it is because his compositions are far more complex than the usual "steppers soul music" that becomes a "hit"- the melodies arent instantly hummable "ditties", there is songwriting craft at work here, hehehehe!You hear the smooth chord progressions, born of the marriage of classic "doo-wop" and jazz style chord progressions,and Ware's passionate vocal delivery
.
The incredible basslines of Chuck Rainey, and soul jazz guitar of David T. Walker make "Words of Love" a feature tune,along with the funky romp "Why I Went to California".The ballad, "Deeper Than Love" is beautiful, and hints of his collaboration and influence on Marvin Gaye's best efforts.
This cd aint perfect, as some sub-disco crap and the aforementioned slickness sometimes gets annoying, but if you listen "deeper", you will appreciate what a fine composer Leon Ware is, and he is an INCREDIBLY PROVOCATIVE VOCALIST.Give this cd a go, and pick up a nice companion in Marvin Gayes' "I Want You" if you dont own it already."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1