Search - Roy Nathanson :: Sotto Voce

More beautiful every time

Sorry McGuinness | Montclair, New Jersey United States | 05/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to Roy Nathanson's Sotto Voce, is like ascending to a place where the Beach Boys have to collaborate with Tupac and Coltrane in order to entertain the ruler of this imaginary fiefdom. This record is not only absolutely whimsical and exciting in it's originality, it is also on point and matter-of-fact about it's influences and its oddness. Nathanson's mind-blowing sax skills shine in a way that he hasn't previously let them. Tim Kiah's child-like singing voice, however, is the most accessible and yet the most eerie part of the group's ingenious sounnd. Napolean Maddox is the band's strangest member, only beatboxing complicated drum beats and singing four part harmonies with Sam Bardfeld, the band's resident rock star violinist, Kiah, and Curtis Fowles the master of call-and-response Trombone work on Sotto Voce.



However, beyond the crafted and remarkable sound the band has created, there are brilliant lyrics and poems that Nathanson modestly speaks throughout.



Overall, Sotto Voce is more than worthwhile to listen to. It is an absolute joy. "By the Page" is both funny and touching in it's sarcasm. "Sunrise, Sunset," sung by Maddox is to Roy Nathanson as "My Favorite Things" was to John Coltrane. Go out of your way to find this record. If you don't, you're truly missing out."