The Lowdown: Stefon Harris and Blackout make their Concord Jazz debut with the highly anticipated release of Urbanus, available August 25th 2009. Heralded as “one of the most important young artists in jazz” (The Los Angeles Times) Stefon Harris brings to Concord Jazz the passionate artistry and astonishing virtuosity that have propelled him into the forefront of the current jazz scene. Urbanus features Blackout, a scintillating ensemble as versed in modern jazz as it is with rhythms, melodies and soundscapes associated with R&B, pop, hip-hop and funk.
The sound is very interesting and impressive, but at times it did get annoying. I have no idea why, but in parts of some songs it was as if they stole Peter Frampton’s talk box, and just started going apeshit with it. This kinda got on my nerves cause it didint really flow with the music. A handfull of songs sounded pretty traditional, but most of them were of a new urban acid jazz type. I have to say…I wasint totally discouraged and will most likely listen to it a couple more times at least.
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