In the World from Natches to New York

Product Description

In the World... is acclaimed coronetist/guitarist/singer Olu Dara's debut as a bandleader. The tracks on this evocative collection are reminiscent of the past, simply because no one sounds like this anymore; put another way, this album so effortlessly blends Mississippi blues, traditional jazz and African styles that it is effectively a genre unto itself. While Olu serves as narrator for most of the set, his son - multi-platinum hip hop star Nas - does the honors on the track "Jungle."

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Singer-trumpeter-guitarist Olu Dara has been knocking around New York City's jazz circles for almost 20 years. On "In the World" he embraces Caribbean rhythms, African highlife/socca riffs, and gut-bucket blues. Vaguely reminiscent of Taj Mahal's fanciful integration of world music and the blues, Dara consistently straddles urban and rural artistry. Sophisticated yet irresistibly down-home, this collection is festive, tuneful, and engaging. Songs like "Rain Shower" and "Natchez Shopping Blues" are clearly based in the American folk-blues idiom, while "Okra" and "Your Lips" are closer to an Afro-Cuban aesthetic. Dara's warm voice is limited but expressive, and his guitar playing fundamentally percussive. On the other hand, Dara's trumpet is unique and extremely lucid. This album comprises a fascinating tour of several musical cultures. --Mitch Myers