Sugar & Silk - Duality
For the first time I became aware of Sugar & Silk reviewing the album "The Best of Passion Jazz - Volume 2". Sugar & Silk are presented with their tune "Everybody Be Cool" on this collection. My attention was awaked. During my stay in London I used the opportunity to visit several big cd-shops at Picadilly Circus on the search of "Fact or Friction", Sugar & Silk's debut album. I had luck and have unpatiently awaited their second album. After a delay of several months the album was finally released in July 2002.
Sugar & Silk are Danny Sugar (bass guitar) and Oli Silk (keyboards). Reading their bios at their website http://www.sugarandsilk.com/ one recognizes that both are very young and at the beginning of a great career. But they already played so often in the Jazz Cafe, that they could be the house band of this small venue in 5 Parkway, Camden (London).
Slamming groovy is the starting song Duality. Take the best of Brian Culbertson and you hit the performance point of Oli's programming and piano skills.
Everybody Be Cool adds to this laidback attitude James Vargas crazy alto sax. One theme is the starting point for several improvisations in sax and piano.
Real Love is pure soulful funk with Paula Crawford 's wonderful young voice comparable to Siedah Garrett's best-known vocals.
Electri-City! is an electrifying powerful Smooth Jazz tune in Richard Elliot's style. Very enjoing, very dancable.
The Green Room reveals the more contemplative side of this amazing duo. A swinging bridge btween the melody strings and some jazzy improvisations showcases the background and the models of the band, which are to find in jazz history as Jaco Pastorius, Dave and Don Crusin and Charles Mingus. But they also respect the members of Fourplay and this is to hear loud and clear.
Love Will Follow features John Reid's impressive vocals. Reid, who already appeared on Marsha Raven's dance album "Catch me", deserves a broader attentiveness. He could be the next Luther Vandross.
A.T.S ( Another True Story) is perfectly arranged and performed. Be aware that this piece was completely made by only two musicians. It's furthermore an example for good drum-programming and Oli's piano play is UK's answer to Bob James.
James Vargas dynamic alto sax marks excentric notes on Oyster, while Oli's keyboards sounds are responsible for the luscious and impressive atmosphere.
Jane Hamilton is a new discovery on Don't Give Up. Sugar & Silk's website informs: "Jane who hails from Scotland now resides in Leicester. She is a prolific singer/songwriter and comes from a very musical family. Jane’s brother, Steve plays and tours with Bill Bruford. She gigs regularly around the Leicester area performing her self penned repertoire."
L'austin Pace is the final tune, written and played for those which believe that Smooth Jazz is jazz. Is this fusion jazz piece the real face of the group?
Critics of this album are throughout positive and I am sure, JazzFM and Solar Radio will aready have tunes of this album at their playlists. Good music is always finding its way to success.
© HBH