Five SURPRISING Stars! Award-winning smooth jazz master Paul Hardcastle continues his streak of winners with "Paul Hardcastle 6" containing a generous 13 tracks of great music. On this CD, he surprises right off the bat with "Rainforest/What's Going On". In this year where wars are raging over the Earth, Paul has combined two of his 1980's musical visions with a Marvin Gaye 1970s mega-hit and formed a compelling piece which is a strong anti-war statement. Using his original undulating "Rainforest' beat as underpinning, with Marvin Gaye's voice from his social anthem
What's Going On soaring above, Paul uses strong verbal punctuations throughout from his controversial hit, "19", (the average age of US combat soldiers in the Vietnam War). It works! There is also a 'chill' version and eleven more marvelous pieces. The vocal and instrumental pieces are supported by saxes, guitars, synthesizers, and flutes served up over an infectious beat with strings, with Paul's trademark 'attention to musical detail'. Instrumentals include "Night Time Hustle" which careens into a wildly swinging piece with an attractive chorus on the bridge. Others include "Neon Adventure", "Blew My Mind Ibiza Mix", "Easy Come Easy Go", and "Forest Echoes (The Conclusion)" which is a very nice sax-heavy version of the original "Rainforest". The vocals on this CD, featuring the unique stylings of Becki Biggins, have sparse lyrics that speak volumes of wisdom and beauty over an urgent beat: "Lost for Words", the funk-heavy "Dc Boogie" with its "Clear Out of This World" sax quote, "Let This Love Begin", "Into The Blue", and "1000 Miles from Nowhere" with its infectious rhythms & 'siren voices' calling. Highly Recommended. Five SWINGING Stars! (This review is based on an Amazon.com download: 13 tracks:~77 minutes)