Mason, Luba: Krazy Love

Once you hear the crystal clear voice of Luba Mason you just might be drawn to her new album Krazy Love. Mason, a native New Yorker, is classically trained in voice, piano and dance. She has also done some acting in Broadway plays including Jeckyll & Hyde, The Capeman, Chicago and How to Succeed in Business. This is her second album. Her music mixes contemporary jazz/cabaret with a splash of Brazilian gusto to create jazz and Latin flavoured rhythms that are truly engaging and seriously easy on the ears. There are no sharp edges here; just smooth, soothing, relaxing music that flows from beginning to end. One of the highlights of this cd is surely Luba's pretty voice, perfectly suited to deliver laid back jazz and pop inflected stylings. Her timbre and tone are quite exceptional. The cd is aptly titled as most of the songs deal with love and relationships.

Mason is backed by some fine musicians including Renato Neto (Prince) on piano and keys, Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets) on bass, Marco Costa on drums, Cassio Duarte on percussion and Sandro Albert on guitar. There are other guest appearances including one by her husband Ruben Blades providing vocals on one track. I am hesitant in making comparisons to other artists as I am not overly familiar with the genre.

The piano playing is excellent throughout and really adds a layer of sophistication to this music. The album begins strongly with the title track, a combination of smooth jazz and subtle Latin rhythms which is what you can expect from the rest of the cd. Other highlights include the sunny "Lovely" with it's effective drum intro and uplifting musical themes. Mason's voice carries the melody and accordion provides a nice touch. The sultry trombone play in the nostalgic sounding "Gorgeous Fool" is a real treat as are Mason's rich vocals. The rest of the albums seven tunes are equally as appealing with nothing I would consider filler.

Anyone interested in Latin influenced smooth/contemporary jazz would be well advised to seek this one out. I found this cd to be a nice change of pace and something a bit different than the heavier music I often listen to. There is an aura of sophistication here that should not go unnoticed.

Track Listing:
1. Krazy Love (3:21)
2. From me to You (3:39)
3. Lovely (3:24)
4. A Summer Night (3:57)
5. E Com Esse Que Eu Vou (3:05)
6. Olhos nos Olhos (5:07)
7. This House (3:26)
8. Gorgeous Fool (4:11)
9. Reunion (4:01)
10. Xmas in July (3:22)

Added: March 16th 2009
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Artist's Official Site
Hits: 3507
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]