Zoe’ | Let’s Fly
Listen to “The Groove” from the Zoe’ – “Let’s Fly” project on our New Voices of Today Page by clicking here!!
Jazz recording Artists Zoe’ (pronounced Zo-Ay) reaches for the sky when integrating R&B sounds with Instrumentals, keeping the interest levels high for the flow of jazz music. And when they came together to produce the new album, “Let’s Fly”, there may be substance strong enough to entice exposure. The group is made up of 6 musicians, defining much of their background to the heritage of a city they hail from – Philadelphia. The camaraderie helped to produce, song write & record 11 tracks of smoldering rhythms & originals.
The band carries an ever clear stage sound presence right into the studio – meaning you will grasp or hear a total ‘LIVE’ listening vibe throughout the entire disc. And that’s important today considering the landscape Contemporary Jazz music is in.
Track Listing:
~ The Groove
~ City Of Love (Philadelphia)
~ Let’s Fly
~ Ordinary People
~ He Is The Answer
~ Idaho
~ Reflections
~ Angels Dancing
~ Cookin’
~ When We Meet
~ Drive My Car (Bonus Track)
Zoe’ Members: Reggie Harris – Sax; Cleveland Belin – Keyboardist; Ronald Segers – Guitarist; David ferebee – Drums; H. Maurice Fonville – Bassist; Bolivar “Chico” Guadalupe – Percusisonist/Trumpter)
Intro, “The Groove” ignites the flavor & gives immediate attention to lead sax man Reggie Harris; “City Of Love (Philadelphia)” enters the room next with soothing guitar plucks streaming from Ronald Segers; Title track, “Let’s Fly” balances out the grooveline & allows the group to cascade the rhythm with Reggie’s sax flows on top of Ronald’s backing guitar moments.
A cover of John Legend’s “Ordinary People” gets addressed & perhaps adds an updated R&B sequence to the overall high quality of the disc. The title of track, “He Is The Answer” says it all for Gospel Jazz music listeners when they get a taste of the rather mellow drenched melodies & “Idaho”, “Reflections”, “Angels Dancing” & “Cookin'” (check the keyboard scatting solo by Cleveland Belin) otherwise keeps the sequence of music tuned directly to a reflective recipe for contemporary jazz music the entire group connected very well to. The Bonus Track, “Drive My Car” was a vocal reach that ended the album on a solid note. Especially appreciating the solo Trumpet chops coming from “Chico” Guadalupe & others.
In fact, its THEIR sound. THEIR niche. Zoe’ not only came to play, but I admire checking out another new jazz group keeping it real on the modern jazz horizon. Not to mention – these guys averaged 5 minutes PER TRACK, with 6 of the 11 songs going over 6 minutes. I dug that.
The 3rd CD to break last year was exquisite & tasteful, without too much studio enhancements. Lots of instrumentation, as to where you will hear EVERYBODYS’ participation on the recording. And I give them a high five & a chest bump for that. Keep it comin’…
Terrill Hanna
The Urban Music Scene