Sounding Off - sound recordings - Brief Article

Ebony, Jan, 2000 by Lynn Norment

The Best In Recorded Music

STEPHEN Marley assembles an outstanding group of young, urban artists to put a fresh spin on his father's reggae classics. For Bob Marley: Chant Down Babylon (Island/Def Jam), Stephen rearranged original Bob Marley vocals and music. Erykah Badu sings on "No More Trouble," while Lauryn Hill duets on the romantic "Turn Your Lights Down Low." Krayzie Bone sizzles on "Rebel Music," while Guru raps on "Johnny Was" and Busta Rhymes flows his rhythms into "Rastaman Chant." MC Lyre raps on the jazzy "Jammin'," while Stephen Marley is joined by brothers Julian and Damian on "Kinky Reggae." Chuck D is defiant on "Black Survivors" and the Roots take hold of "Burnin' & Lootin'." The recording achieves Bob Marley's dream of taking his roots music to the urban masses.

The Artist Formerly Known As Prince kicks off the new year with a hot new recording. On Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (NPG/Arista), he demonstrates agility as he segues from slow jams like the bluesy "Man O' War" and the sorrowful "I Love U, But I Don't Trust U Anymore" to funk explosions such as "Hot Wit U" and "Everyday Is A Winding Road" to sensuous ballads like "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold," the poetic "Tangerine" and the romantic "The Sun, The Moon & The Stars." Chuck D raps on "Undisputed"; Sheryl Crow performs on "Baby Knows"; Gwen Stefani duets on "So Far, So Pleased"; and saxophonist Maceo Parker lets loose on "Prettyman." There is plenty of great material here, and as usual, The Artist is generous in his offering. And he teams with his alter-ego, Prince, who is credited with producing the recording.

Pieces of a Dream offers the perfect antidote for stressed-out lives with its mellow recording, Ahead to the Past (Blue Note). The first tune is the laidback "Took So Long," with seductive soprano sax, while "Malibu Nights". features spirited interaction between bass piano and sax. Calvin Richardson delivers pleading vocals on "Why Don't You Let Me Love You"; Cherie Mitchell sings beautifully on "You and I"; while a silky soprano sax delivers the message on "Love You for Life." The melodic "Philly High" pays tribute to the group's roots, while the set ends with the melancholy "Cry of the Lonely."

ALSO NOTED: Pop Winans, Uncensored (Against the Flow); Mom Winans, An Affair to Remember (AF); Winans Phase II, We Got Next (Epic); Drea Randle, Ooo Wee (Verity); The Dixie Hummingbirds, Music in the Air (HOB), with Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon and Isaac Hayes; Mighty Clouds of Joy, It was You (CGI); Ellis Marsalis, Duke in Blue (Columbia); Yes I Can! The Sammy Davis Jr. Story (Warner Archives/Rhino), 4-CD set; Erroll Garner (Telarc), 6-CD set; Gerald Veasley, Love Letters (Heads Up); Marcus Roberts Trio, In Honor of Duke (Columbia); Mariah Carey, Rainbow (Columbia); VH1 Divas Live '99 (Arista), with Whitney, Tina & Brandy; United We Funk (Major Label); Notorious B.I.G., Born Again (Bad Boy); Master P, Only God Can Judge Me (No Limit/Priority); Sisqo, Unleash the Dragon (Island/Def Jam); Method Man & Redman, Blackout! (Def Jam); Eve, Let There Be Eve (Ruff Ryders/Interscope); Donell Jones, Where I Wanna Be (LaFace/Arista); Tribe Called Quest, Anthology (Jive).