Dante Lewis | Set The Mood | TheUrbanMusicScene.com

Dante Lewis – Set The Mood

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Whether
playing in church or for the local jazz festivals in South Carolina,
Dante Lewis always presents a joyful of spirit when making music. The
saxophonist’s band Vision blazes plenty of funk and classic R&B to
their loyal audiences. Vision includes keyboard player and vocalist
Byron Counts who brought his own production and musical vision onto
Lewis’ debut, Set The Mood from Sounds of the
City Records. This contemporary jazz collection combines R&B
favorites and original tunes written or co-written by Counts.
Considering this is Lewis’ first chance in the national spotlight, his
contributions on Set The Mood are quite
pleasing to the ears and can stand up to some of today’s counterparts.
The backing musicians include members of Vision: Counts and bass
guitarist Tyrone Mack. Two of Lewis’ attributes are his refreshing
perspective on the melody and his seamless improvisations which mostly
stray from excessive runs and maintaining a pure tone throughout.

What a way to jump start Set The Mood
but with one of Luther’s (Vandross) best moments on the R&B charts,
“Never Too Much,” including those funky guitar hooks and brass
punches. Lewis teases his audiences in the latter half of Stevie
Wonder’s “Knocks Me Off My Feet” with snippets of Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual
Healing” and “She Used To Be My Girl” by The O’Jays. From the pen of
Counts, “Midnight Ride” and “Fingertips” create a relaxing mood after
that long day at the office, thanks to Lewis’ fluid sax and guitarist
Terence Young’s warm solo on the former track. Lewis maintains the
melodic quality of Louis Armstrong’s classic ballad, “What a Wonderful
World,” but manages to paint a few soulful brushes in between. Finally
to close Set The Mood, there is a special
gospel jazz treat in “Only What You Do For Christ Will Last,” capped
with some tight harmonies from Counts and Tenita Dreher.

While Set The Mood does
not shatter contemporary jazz ground, Lewis’ inspired playing and
top-notch arrangements by Counts and Young are more than enough to make
this a fairly satisfying experience for adult contemporary urban
audiences. Eventually, time will tell if Lewis decides to tour more
outside the Carolinas with Vision so fans across the country can hear a
wonderfully talented and soulful musician in action.

Peggy Oliver

The Urban Music Scene