The Beat

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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide
Inspired by his love of Latin and R&B music, saxophonist Boney James decided to mash them up on 2013's The Beat. His first album for Concord since 2009's Send One Your Love, The Beat takes inspiration from such classics of the Latin genre as Sergio Mendes' "Batucada," reimagined here by James as a funk number. Also included are performances with such soulful R&B artists as vocalist Raheem DeVaughan and the Floacist. The Beat also reunites James with longtime associate trumpeter Rick Braun. This is a passionate, high-energy album that should appeal to longtime James fans and fans of crossover Latin, jazz, and soul music.
All Music Guide - Thom Jurek ...
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Editorial Reviews

All Music Guide
Inspired by his love of Latin and R&B music, saxophonist Boney James decided to mash them up on 2013's The Beat. His first album for Concord since 2009's Send One Your Love, The Beat takes inspiration from such classics of the Latin genre as Sergio Mendes' "Batucada," reimagined here by James as a funk number. Also included are performances with such soulful R&B artists as vocalist Raheem DeVaughan and the Floacist. The Beat also reunites James with longtime associate trumpeter Rick Braun. This is a passionate, high-energy album that should appeal to longtime James fans and fans of crossover Latin, jazz, and soul music.
All Music Guide - Thom Jurek
After a brief sojourn for Verve Forecast with 2011's Contact, Boney James returns home to Concord for The Beat. Aptly titled, this is the recording where the composer and saxophonist weds his love for both R&B and Latin music, weaving them together in his trademark brand of contemporary jazz. Besides James, the other star on this date is all-star percussionist Lenny Castro, whose use of congas, timbales, bongos, and numerous other instruments adds dimension, flavor, and punch to most of these cuts. A cover of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," is the opener. It's played as a lithe bossa nova. Drummer Vinnie Colauita and Castro exchange accents in all the right places as James uses his soprano to glide through the melody. Another highlight is the cover of the Sergio Mendes classic "Batacuda," with longtime friend and collaborator Rick Braun lending his trumpet. In James' arrangement, this is 21st century jazz funk with the two-horn frontline backed by Rob Bacon's stinging guitar, Alex Al's bassline, Tim Carmon's keyboard washes -- including a second bassline -- and keen interplay between punchy drummer Omari Williams and Castro. Braun's solo is short but very tight. Soul crooner Raheem DeVaughn appears on the slippery meld of old-school soul and laid-back funky jazz on "Maker of Love." Natalie "The Floacist" Stewart offers her rhyming and signing skill to "They Midas (This Is Why)." It simmers with a sexy, nocturnal feel and illustrates modern club jazz at its best. "Sunset Boulevard" wanders into the jazz fields more, with lovely piano work from Brandon Coleman and a low-end strutting bass by Dwayne "Smitty" Smith. "Powerhouse" melds Latin funk to fingerpopping contemporary jazz, while "You Can Count on Me" -- with one of James' most memorable melodies in ages -- weds Brazilian MPB, languid R&B, and emotive smooth jazz, and sends it all out on a high note. His tenor playing here is wide open and sultry. While The Beat is not as uptempo as its title might imply, it more than compensates with the layers of rhythms inherent in its tunes. There are no low points on the set, only grooves galore.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 4/9/2013
  • Label: Concord Records
  • UPC: 888072342491
  • Catalog Number: 34249
  • Sales rank: 62

Tracks

Disc 1
  1. 1 Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing (4:56)
  2. 2 Sunset Boulevard (4:07)
  3. 3 Missing You (3:37)
  4. 4 Batucada (The Beat) - Rick Braun (4:03)
  5. 5 Maker of Love - Raheem DeVaughn (3:48)
  6. 6 Mari's Song (4:28)
  7. 7 Powerhouse (4:00)
  8. 8 The Midas (This Is Why) - The Floacist (4:03)
  9. 9 Acalento (Lullaby) (4:04)
  10. 10 You Can Count On Me (4:57)
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Album Credits

Performance Credits
Boney James Primary Artist, Flute, Keyboards, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
Alex Al Bass
Rick Braun Trumpet
Lenny Castro Percussion
Vinnie Colaiuta Drums
Mark Stephens Keyboards
Tim Carmon Piano, Keyboards, keyboard bass
Raheem DeVaughn Vocals
Omari Williams Drums
Phil Davis Keyboards
Brandon Coleman Keyboards
Dwayne "Smitty" Smith Bass
Rob Bacon Guitar
The Floacist Vocals
Jairus Mozee Guitar, Keyboards
Abi Mancha Vocals
Technical Credits
Boney James Composer, Programming, Producer, Engineer
David Rideau Engineer
Mark Stephens Composer
Marcos Valle Composer
Stevie Wonder Composer
Paul Blakemore Mastering
Barbara Rose Management, Representation
Paulo Sérgio Valle Composer
Natalie Stewart Composer
Raheem DeVaughn Composer
Phil Davis Composer, Programming, Producer
Jamil "Face" Johnson Vocal Engineer
Brandon Coleman Composer
Nolan Weekes Composer, Vocal Engineer
Jairus Mozee Composer, Programming, Producer
Abi Mancha Composer
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