Land of Enchantment
Mosby Music Group (2023)
I remember the first time I played Todd Mosby's newest
album, Land of Enchantment, and after 15 or so seconds of the first
track, "Place In The Sun," I seriously thought I had misplaced
the CD and inserted a Spyrogyra or Return To Forever album instead. This was
completely unexpected to say the least. I listened to a lot of jazz fusion when
I was much younger, including the aforementioned two groups as well as Bob
James, The Brecker Brothers, Tom Scott and the LA Express, and more. Of course,
I hadn't read the album one sheet or glanced at the guest artist list which
would've certainly lessened the shock when this sweet opening track blasted
from my Elantra's sound system.
According to the liner notes, Mosby New Mexico as the
artistic impetus behind this release, stating "A longtime source of
creative inspiration for artists such as Georgia O'Keefe and Ansel Adams, New
Mexico serves as the transformative catalyst for a musical journey into its
beautiful landscapes and unique culture."
Granted, that opening track with its driving trap kit drum
rhythms, funky bottom, and (surprise!)
Tom Scott, the tenor sax himself, laying
down some serious horn work, may not strike most as reflecting what New Mexico
"typically" brings to mind. The same can be said of track two, "Moonrise
Samba," and its sensual swaying melody and intoxicating percussion. But,
no matter how you slice it, if Mosby and company had New Mexico coursing
through their veins during the recording of Land of Enchantment, I sure
ain't complaining.
Not everything on the album is "Let's get off our ass
and move," but if one were to compare the overall tone of the CD to so
many other more "new age" Southwest US inspired releases, the Venn
diagram would feature little intersection. Not that the former myriad albums
are any less inspired or fantastic.
I also must give props to Mosby for his two cover tunes (the
other six are his compositions). The famous Beatle tune "Norwegian
Wood" on which Mosby plays lead melody on his sitar-like imrat guitar. The
song rocks, albeit mostly gently, with a pan-Indian twist and an infusion
Indian fusion jazziness in the bridge. The other cover closes out the disc and
it's a song you (or should I say "I") don't see recorded much as an
instrumental: Jimmy Webb's (made famous by Glen Campbell) "By The Time I
Get To Phoenix." Things turn reflective and low-key here, deservedly so,
and guest star Charlie Bisharat's violin adds the perfect amount of atmospheric
shading here, as does vocalist (wordless) Laura Vall. One can almost picture a long-haul
trucker making his/her way down the desert highway well into the night.
I also dug the semi-blues/jazz "A Distant Light,"
on which Dapo Torimo's nuanced piano is a highlight, as well as Adrienne Woods'
cello. Finally, one song is a solo
guitar piece, that being "Emerald Springs," where it's just Mosby and
his acoustic guitar veering from some mellow fingerstyle to energetic chord
fireworks.
Lanf Of Enchantment is one of those "take me
away somewhere new and exciting" albums that will, I believe, enchant the
listener who is seeking music to liven the day and sprinkle some magic into
her/his life, even if just for a bit.
ALBUM DETAILS
All songs composed and arranged by Todd Mosby except where
noted*
Album produced by Jeffrey Weber
*Norwegian Wood composed by John Lennon and Paul McCartney
*By The Time I Get To Phoenix composed by Jimmy Webb
INSTRUMENT CREDITS
Todd Mosby: Acoustic and electric guitars, acoustic and
electric imrat guitars
Tom Scott: Tenor sax, saxophone
Vinnie Colaluta: Drums
Rhonda Smith: electric bass, ns bass
Charlie Bisharat: Violin
Dapo Torimiro: Electric piano, piano
Timothy Bailey: Bass
David Leach: Percussion
Laura Vall: Vocals
Adrienne Woods: Cello
Ranya Iqbal: Cello
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