Chuck Loeb - Unspoken

Bitrate: 320K/s
Year: 2016
Time: 59:27
Size: 136,2 MB
Label: Shanachie Ent. Corp.
Styles: Jazz/Smooth Jazz
Art: Front

Tracks Listing:
 1. Cotton Club (Feat. Jeff Lorber) - 5:04
 2. Natural Light (Feat. Andy Snitzer) - 6:06
 3. Unspoken (Feat. Brian Culbertson) - 6:11
 4. Happy Hour (Feat. Mitchel Forman) - 6:02
 5. Affinity (Feat. Everette Harp) - 5:17
 6. Treetops (Feat. Jeff Lorber & Eric Marienthal) - 5:06
 7. Si Se Puede (Feat. Till Bronner) - 5:32
 8. Way Up High (Feat. Carmen Cuesta) - 3:03
 9. Cut And Run (Feat. David Mann) - 5:51
10. Voramar (Feat. Eric Marienthal & Pat Bianchi) - 7:24
11. Via Verde (Feat. Christina Loeb) - 3:45

The 13th Century Persian poet Rumi wrote, “There is a voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.” World-class composer and guitarist, Chuck Loeb has crafted an album of songs that has been inspired by things felt but often left upspoken… kind gestures, healing thoughts, prayers, gratitude, appreciation and the like. Currently a member of two Grammy-nominated, Contemporary Jazz power groups, Fourplay and Jazz Funk Soul, instrumental music has been an essential in the multi-talented artist’s life, as a listener and of course as a musician. UNSPOKEN features uplifting, heartfelt new music with extraordinary special guests, including some vocals from his wife, critically-acclaimed Spanish vocalist Carmen Cuesta and band mates Nathan East, Jeff Lorber, Everette Harp as well as Brian Culbertson, and Andy Snitzer. Listen to UNSPOKEN and feel the music.
Master Jazz guitarist/visionary Chuck Loeb again rolls out yet another fine project, Unspoken, that further compliments and hails the chuck-loeb-unspoken-cdintricacies and meticulous nature of well-played J-A-Z-Z. Here’s another perfect example of how the well-polished artist who now boasts 18 album as a leader, counting this one, to his credit can dash between solid straight-ahead styles and melodies to the contemporary smooth stuff and that which carries the emotive and exotic Brazilian touch. Here on Unspoken, we are tantalized by the Jeff Lorber/Loeb connection with “Cotton Club,” a nicely paced steppin’ piece with a lot of the trademark sound of both artists, followed by another high-steppin’ very melodic track called “Natural Light,” featuring saxman Andy Snitzer. The album is chock full of luminaries like bassist extraordinaire Nathan East and keys funkster Brian Culbertson – both of whom appear on the laid-back cool title track, the ever-present and always satisfying horn master David Mann on tenor sax, flute, and horn arrangements on several tracks, Everette Harp on alto sax (check out the smooth, alluring “Affinity”), the always captivating Carmen Cuesta who lends her fine vocals on “Way Up High” a sultry and delightful Brazilian journey, and many others who offer bright spots throughout the album. You’re also in for a special treat as Loeb’s daughter Christina offers her talent on ukulele and joins her mom on vocals on the lovely finale “Via Verde.” As mentioned earlier, this project is a great blend of the sophistication of traditional jazz chops, contemporary flair, and exoticism. Of course, one would expect no less from one who has proven himself over and over to be among the elite in a field that can be as broad as the vision of the artist who looks at it and mulls over just what he or she can bring to it. Loeb has been bringing on every one of his 18 albums a truckload of fresh ideas and brilliance that only color this genre with the brightest of colors. That truck is probably still full of great music yet to be heard. A two-thumbs-up effort.

Unspoken