DRUM 'N' VOICE, VOL. 4

Another collaboration with the Nicolosi family and Nicolosi productions yields some of the most enjoyable Jazz-Rock Fusion of the 20teens. After four very successful album releases from this team I am convinced that Billy + the Nicolosi family = the perfect team for 21st Century J-R Fusion.

1. "Interactive" (5:18) a straightforward, fast-paced jazz-rock jam that features Brian Auger racing around the keys of his Hammond organ. Not a particularly fresh or interesting song. (8.6667/10)

2. "Psychologic" (4:40) sophisticated 21st Century Jazz-Rock Fusion that contains some creative synthesizer and synthesized guitar choices and inputs from Pino and Lino as well as as some awesome drumming from The One And Only. A wild space ride! (9.25/10)

3. "Ata y che" (4:59) the first song with vocals, here featuring the great Gregg Kofi Brown, as well as some great drum 'n' bass, Fender Rhodes, and synthesizer-produced horn banks. Too bad the rhythm track (from Billy, Rossana, and Lino) feels so solid and unchanging that it leaves me wondering if it's all the result of a computerized sequencer. (9.25/10)

4. "Raised" (4:49) another great groove whose bass line feels as if it was lifted from Boney James & Rick Braun's song "Chain Reaction." (9.25/10)

5. "The Vibe Inside" (4:27) another great groove with awesome performances from Lino, Pino, Rossana, and Dora. (It's always such a pleasure to hear Dora's lovely voice.) (9.333/10)

6. "Le lis" (radio vocal version) (3:56) a pleasant and melodic Smooth Jazz tune credited to Billy that turns into a vehicle for some Black ghetto vocals, this one feels quite deserving of radio play. Great vocal performance(s) from Gregg Kofi Brown as well as drum, bass, and Fender Rhodes play from Billy, Rossana, and Pino. (9.25/10)

7. "Over" (5:13) this Nicolosi song is a set up for some real sophisticated Jazz-Rock Fusion drum 'n' bass with some impressive if more rock-oriented lead guitar work from guest Frank Gambale. (9.125/10)

8. "Shining Sun" (6:01) more beautiful Jazz-Rock Fusion from the Nicolosi family that bridges the old (Bill Withers "Lovely Day" with guest Stanley Jordan performing his signature two-handed touch guitar play and some trip-hoppy 1990s drum 'n' low bass sounds) with some of the 21st Century's sounds and technical wizardry (coming mostly from Pino's computer-keyboard department). Quite enjoyable and melodic. (9.25/10)

9. "Superstar" (4:36) quite a different song for the album: a deep bassed, two-chord Trip-Hopped rap song from vocalist Gregg Kofi, Chris "Influence" Smith, and the Nicolosis. Quite powerful. (9.25/10)

10. "Le Lis" (5:13) an instrumental variation on the album's sixth song. Here Pino gets to really shine for the first two minutes while Rossana, Billy and Pino's Eumir Deodato-like Fender Rhodes chord play hold down an awesomely laid back and hypnotic "Smooth Jazz/Yacht Rock" groove. Then enter Lino for a long three minute solo on his guitar. Nice! Nice jam from the Nicolosi family--and a perfect/fitting end to this wonderful album. (9.25/10)

Total Time 50:22

Though the music here feels at times rather straightforward, one-dimensional (making me wonder how much of it is looped, programmed, and/or computer generated) there is no contesting the solid quality of the sound and the general amiability of all of the songs. There may not be as much of the flash that I love to see/hear from the Maestro, but the Nicolosi magic works so well on so many levels that I'm really not in any position to complain.

A-/five stars; another minor masterpiece of accessible and eminently enjoyable "Smooth" Jazz-Rock Fusion from the ever-successful Cobham-Nicolosi collaboration!