Andrew Oh - Silk
What
is softer than silk? Andrew Oh's music. Smooth Jazz recording artist
Andrew Oh, born in Singapore now Australian resident has played with
Sammy Davis jr., Sergio Mendez, Roberta Flack, The Drifters, The Bee
Gees, The Carpenters, The Supremes, Phil Perry, Al Jarreau, John
Denver, Louie Shelton, Cher and many more. In the film "Mad Max
Beyond Thunderdome" he played the role of the blind saxophone
player "Tonton Tattoo". His self titled debut album
was released in USA in 1997. Produced by Denny Jiosa and Michael Morye
this album gained the Gavin Smooth Jazz charts and remained for 17
weeks.
His newest
album "Silk" is composed and arranged by Noel
Elmowy and Andrew Oh. It features some of the best Smooth Jazz
musicians from USA and Australia. A very smart starter is Only
For You. Andrew
's superb sax is well supported by Deiter Kleeman on electric guitar,
Noel Elmowy on keyboards and piano and Land Richards on drums.
The tune is relaxing like a warm summer night in an elegant night
café.
Out Of Darkness
has a surprising opening by Bu-Baca De Maurice on African Drums. It's
an energetic up tempo tune. Noel Elmowy's handwriting
is unadulteratedly recognizable. Andrew's sax is the icing on the top.
The slow tempo
title song Silk
features Andrew's skills on tenor saxophone. This tune is perfectly
tailored for the smooth jazz radios in America.
That Andrew can
also play flute in a superb way is shown up on Stepping
Out. I personally
prefer such up tempo pieces. They represent the real nature of a
musician's soul. A special shout out to Victor Rounds on bass, who
sets his own accents.
Sunday Afternoon
is a slow tempo piece for teatime dreaming.
This tempo
continues on Heaven.
Mellow tones are a specialty of Andrew Oh, this time on alto sax.
More energy is to
find on Cruise
Control. Tony
Azzoparti on percussion and congas warms up my heart. Noel on
keyboards and Peter Northcote on acoustic guitar are further
highlights.
Andrew and Noel 's
reflections on Alone
At Midnight are a
resting-point with an excursion in some swing moments.
A burst out into Detours
with hot timbales and bongos. Featured artist is Louie Shelton on
guitar. We are impatiently awaiting his new album.
A traditional
Smooth Jazz tune is Summer
Rain. Full of
emotions incorporated in the mellow sound of Andrew's tenor sax,
spiced with Noel's keyboards soloing. Clive Harrison's solo on
fretless bass is too short.
Wildest Dreams
is a modest final.
This album is
especially recommendable for all friends of sax music.
