Monday, August 5, 2024

REVIEW: TODD MOSBY - Land Of Enchantment

TODD MOSBY
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

 

 

 

No comments: