Oli Silk | All We Need

Oli Silk | All We Need
by Brent Faulkner

Pianist Oli Silk continues to keep the ‘art’ of jazz alive through his recent 2010 Trippin N Rhythm Records release All We Need. On the fine All We Need, Silk bridges old and new with creative instrumental orchestrations that keep the prime aspects of jazz alive while blending them with urban sensibilities. The result is a polished album that is not revolutionary by any means, but also does not miss a beat in the least. Silk’s piano playing is exceptional throughout; his sense of timing and pacing as a soloist is impeccable, as demonstrated throughout the sound All We Need. Additionally, the musical programming never grows too indulgent, making this album a tastefully produced effort.

Opening cut “All We Need” is a great title track featuring soulful production and a breezy laid-back quality. “All We Need”is the perfect length for a smooth jazz cut, which tend revolve more around the groove and the ‘smoothness’ as opposed to say excessive soloing. Silk’s solos are tastefully executed and his‘comping’ (accompanying parts) are clever. “Tokyo” is another standout cutting, finding the addition of clever‘Japanese’ sounding program, superb trumpet playing by Cindy Bradley and lovely flute playing by Gary Honor. “Tokyo” is a lengthier cut, which can sometimes drive the listener away in smooth jazz,but Silk makes it more than worth while, if for nothing else but the clever production work and his fantastic piano playing.

“Didn’t Know About Love” adds vocals by Shannon “Sangin’ Diva” Pearson to the mix; Ms. Pearson evokes the smooth jazz style perfectly with clear and present vocals. The rhythm section is incredibly tight on this cut, the programming is as creative as ever, and Silk’s solos on both electric and acoustic piano are memorable and enjoyable. “L.A. to London” finds a clever combination between ‘keys’ and flute, which is quite pleasing to the ear. “L.A. to London”possesses an incredibly enjoyable ‘low key vibe.’ “Latin Haze” proves to possess the archetypical latin feel and while it may not be revolutionary, it is as enjoyable and consistent as all the other cuts from All We Need. Rebeca Vega Felipe’s ‘spoken word’ contribution puts ‘the cherry on top’ of this cut.

“Ahead of the Weather” features more noteworthy solos from Silk, finding him honing in on his crisp, clean improvisatory style. Additionally, the interplay between piano and saxophone on this cut, coupled with conservative music programming makes “Ahead of the Weather” one of the albums ‘valedictory’ cuts. “Get Out Claws” features an R&B-styled groove that is quite infectious – not to mention the clever use of organ -mixed perfectly in the background of the cut.

“Bring Back Those Days” amps up the music programming at the beginning, but backs off smartly so that the focus of the cut is Silk’s musicianship. Here, Shannon Pearson jumps aboard to provide vocals once again. Like earlier cut,“Didn’t Know About Love,” Pearson sounds great, though the earlier cut eclipses this cut slightly. Penultimate cut “Just and Allusion” uses some lovely string programming and fine soloing by Silk on piano once again. The only drawbacks maybe the lengthiness of the cut given there is nothing revolutionary at this point on All We Need. Silk smartly throws the listener for a loop with the unique sounds of “Lay Back and Think of England”which is too long itself, but features enough great solos and sounds to be captivating.

Overall, Silk’s All We Need is a superb smooth jazz album. While it is not always cutting edge as say the music of the jazz masters, Silk does just enough to make it both an enjoyable and captivating listen to the listener. Even when the material grows the slightest bit dry, Silk’s creative musical ideas and fine keyboard work redirect the lost momentum.

Brent Faulkner
The Urban Music Scene