Radio Music Society [CD]

There is a lot to be impressed by here - in terms of the playing, compositions and arrangements. This is obviously a companion piece to Chamber Music Society. But these two album are very different. The "chamber" album was all acoustic and lightly orchestrated - it was gentle music inspired by nature.

This album however, has moments of chamber music calm, but generally it is funkier, with Spalding's own funky, electric bass lines to the fore. For any bass players, she is compulsive listening and the bass propels a lot of tracks into Jazz/Funk workouts that are complex and tricky.

Wayne Shorter's "Endangered Species" is a stand-out funky take on a Jazz original with added lyrics and great playing all round. Terri Lyne Carrington on drums is a great partner in the rhythm section and their intuitive musical relationship promises a lot.

The other memorable and radio-friendly tune here is Stevie Wonder's "I Can't Help it" - written for Michael Jackson; here it is Jazzier and trickier, but really stands out and Esperanza really makes it her own. But perhaps this is why I feel I can only give this 4 stars - the original compositions while clever and "difficult" are rarely memorable. Apart from "Black Gold", they impress with their musicianship, but the substance is not always there.

Most tracks have great playing from a big cast of great Jazz musicians and about half the tracks are arranged for a big band which is almost like a small orchestra. Textures and dynamic contrasts abound - but in the end they can't make up for a memorable tune and it is the arrangements of other people's tunes which really stand out.

I see no problem with this and I hope that future albums see more like this and as Jazz musicians have done for decades - shaping something new out of existing material. I would also like to have had more improvised passages where the great musicians could stretch out - there is a lot of arranged material here and it shows that Esperanza Spalding has put in a lot of work here - but I enjoyed the parts where the musicians were allowed more freedom.

Maybe in future the albums could be less about the skill and the amount of work that has gone into it and more about just playing, just going for it? No doubt she is a great player and arranger, who has worked incredibly hard on her craft. I loved large parts of this album and many tracks are radio-friendly and could get a big crossover audience beyond Jazz. But I feel we still have the best of Esperanza Spalding to come and I for one, will be watching with interest.

In the past 6 years, Esperanza Spalding has released 4 superb albums, all very different in their own way. This fourth and most recent offering "Radio Music Society" possesses more soul and funk than any modern R&B record I have listened to this past decade. The arrangements are so laid back, her vocals are once again spot on and the lyrics are interesting and purposely chosen.

"Radio Song" is a great opener and blends Soul, Jazz and Funk to perfection. "Cinnamon Tree" is a very soulful ballad, quite similar to what Jill Scott could have composed at the top of her game, but with much more improvisation and interesting changes in the melody. "Crowned & Kissed" continues in the same vein and is yet again a delicious soul influenced uptempo Jazz composition with some great vocal harmonies. "Land Of The Free" is a quiet but effective Blues and Gospel influenced track. The lead single "Black Gold" is a lovely inspirational song with a sweet melody and wonderful vocals from both Esperanza and Algebra. It is followed by the wonderful Stevie Wonder cover "I Can't Help It" which adapts itself to Jazz so effortlessly. "Hold On Me" and "Vague Suspicions" possess a much stronger Jazz feel than the other songs and are very sentimental creations. "Endangered Species" is an intriguing pure slice of Funk, featuring the additional vocals of the songstress Lalah Hathaway and "Let Go" has a catchy funky chorus, reminiscent of the 70's. The magical "City Of Roses" is another exceptional song with a beautiful soulful chorus, making it the highlight of the album. "Smile Like That" ends the album on a positive and delicate note, with subtle arrangements, sweet vocals and uplifting lyrics.

"Radio Music Society" is certainly more accessible than Esperanza's previous releases as it touches on Soul and Funk quite extensively but, at the same time, this recording still manages to retain the quality of her unique artistry. Esperanza adds a new dimension to her already accomplished and successful career and attempts to reach out to a broader audience. She is an artist who wants to be listened to and should be.

A glorious selection of beautiful music ... what a voice. Put this on
if you feel a bit low and her silken tones will lift your spirits. I
believe she is one of Prince's favourite musicians and I totally understand
why. A valued addition to the eclectic range on my I-pod.