Joe Johnson – The After Party
The After Party is free flowing and hip. Get ready to ignite your engines and pull back on the throttle as we blast through the atmosphere on a trip across several musical genres, including R&B, Funk, Fusion, & Ballads that are as soft as terry cloth. Alto saxateer Joe Johnson’s new release is a follow up of his 2005 album, “The Life Of The Party”.
As executive producer, Joe took the time out of his busy touring schedule and role as Angela Winbush’s impressario to hit the studio. His energy, creativity and passion has manifested in this YASNY label masterpiece.
This is not another Najee-esq multi-woodwind artist offering. The Memphis, Tenn. native also handles drum & string programming duties as well as playing lead Alto Saxophone. All the horn arrangements were engineered to precision, thanks to Lloyd Barry.
The 1st track takes off with a short one & half minute, neo-soul intro – The After Party, Aaron Mason sounds a little like a male version of Erykah Badu, and that is cool. Things get pumped up in a hurry with a remake of the SOS Band classic ‘Take Your Time’ called “Doing It Right”. Later on in the disk, you get your “Cha-Cha” on with “Steppers Holiday” selection that sounds a lot like R. Kelly’s ‘Steppin In The Name Of Love’, with spoken word lyrics by Da Poet.; The party continues through track #9, “Smooth Ms. DJ” is the remake of the club hit by Zhane, ‘Hey Mr. DJ’; Track 12 is a treat for the ladies titled “Femminity”. So go ahead & cuddle!
This CD is solid all the way through and there are no weak cuts. This is Urban Jazz at its best, and what you would expect of this world class musician. This has all the elements of a collectors keeper.
Please visit our Jazz Page for song samples & purchase of the MP3, exclusively from Amazon!
Andre Singleton
The Urban Music Scene