Lead by Warren Rosenstein/org, John Pondel/g and Marlon Saunders/voc, Jazzhole made a name during the “acid jazz” wave in the 90s. Here the foundational trio and a surfeit of guests take on hits from the Nixon Administration years, ranging from a soulful “If Loving You Is Wrong…” that hits all the right chords to a take of Elton John’s “Rocket Man” that is fantastically tackled in Portuguese. A backwoods lilt to “You’re So Vain” might give Carly Simon a raised eyebrown, while a Brazilian fell on “Alone Again (Naturally)” finally puts some pop into the bubblegum hit. While Saunders does some very impressive work here, she also shows a distinction between eras that 40 years can do-better technique, but less emotion. Life is made up of trade-offs, after all.
Beave Music