Russian guitarist Artur Bayramgalin has already created some gems of smooth jazz. To mention are Interro Island (2009), Electric Breezz (2010), Perfect Day (2014), and My Seasons (2015). His new album Let's Talk (2017) is just released on the freshly founded German Lemongrassmusic sub-label Lemon Jazz Records. Artur is supported on his new album by Artur Gimaev (trumpet), Anton Buzz (sax), Leysan Saripova and Elvina Mustafina (vocals), and Rustem Karimov (percussion). The album lifts off with Let's Talk, an intimate conversation between Artur and the trumpeter Artur Gimaev, breathing the melancholy of a summer afternoon.
Embedded in a Latin-inspired rhythm Artur celebrates the
sound of his guitar on Intero featuring Anton Buzz on
sax. Bayramgalin's inner relaxed attitude gets its expression in
his smooth-running guitar performance. With a swaying Samba beat
he approaches the Tangerine Coast. The tangerine is
an orange-colored citrus fruit that is closely related to, or
possibly a type of, mandarin orange. The sweet fruitiness morphs
into a rich harmonic declaration of lyrical independence.
Positive Smile is a journey down the known swinging jazz road often traveled. Anton Buzz handles his sax like a clarinet. Artur's reverb guitar sound fits aptly into this retro impression. Toronto Lights follows the motto "simplicity is the ultimate in sophistication". The main theme stays in constant repetition and only the vintage organ brings a break. Kurkuma is better known as Turmeric, a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family, also a rare spice. Artur transforms the spice into a hot exotic acid jazz piece. Vocalist Leysan Saripova gives the song Stone Idol a South Sea-like character, a splendid mixture of world music and folk song. The Melody is a sweeping ballad in the place, where new age and soft rock find a common denominator. Back To The 80īs confronts the listeners with ancient music style, vintage sounding keyboards and Saripova's sing-along, a last resort of post-war positivism. With Let's Talk Artur Bayramgalin presents a unique glimpse at Ufa's jazz scene beyond the fashionable smooth jazz genre and always with the understandable intention to propagate emotion and joy.
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