Jazzmasters 6

[Interstate 78]

Just got to sample through a friend of mine the entire new Jazzmasters VI album, and is it me, or is this one of Hardcastle's weaker works? Having long been a Hardcastle fan, I never thought there'd ever be such thing as a "weak" Hardcastle album, but while good, the tracks don't seem to have the same flare as his previous albums. Some of the tracks are strangely short for Paul, like in the 3 and a half minute range instead of five and six minutes. No long fade outs, but rather shorter fades. In the inner cover, he says that he's going for more of a "chilled kind of vibe" on the disc, but I'm wondering if it's more of an effort to be more radio friendly, which is disappointing for one of my favorite artists of all time. Maybe I'm reading it the wrong way though. Any other opinions on the new Jazzmasters VI?

 

[majaman78]

Just got to sample through a friend of mine the entire new Jazzmasters VI album, and is it me, or is this one of Hardcastle's weaker works? Having long been a Hardcastle fan, I never thought there'd ever be such thing as a "weak" Hardcastle album, but while good, the tracks don't seem to have the same flare as his previous albums. Some of the tracks are strangely short for Paul, like in the 3 and a half minute range instead of five and six minutes. No long fade outs, but rather shorter fades. In the inner cover, he says that he's going for more of a "chilled kind of vibe" on the disc, but I'm wondering if it's more of an effort to be more radio friendly, which is disappointing for one of my favorite artists of all time. Maybe I'm reading it the wrong way though. Any other opinions on the new Jazzmasters VI?

Is Paul still working for BA?

Maybe unfortunately he's taking the same idiotic route as Kenny G did with his crummy BA influenced CD.

Too bad, he's been one of my favorite artists, but if he's drinking the BA kook-aid, then au revoir.

I'll just keep listenng to his older works.

These BA affilited artists are just shooting themselves in the foot.

 

[AC Tones]

I generally agree on both counts, guys. Not the typical Hardcastle vibe. You guys will both like "Solar Sky," as it has that classic Hardcastle vibe/feel you speak of. There is also a nice downtempo cut (Track 8, the name escapes me). The vocals are OK, but I am partial to Helen Rogers' work with Paul. And the Kepler voiceover on Track 13 is nauseating. If I would have to grade it, I'd say a C+/B-, which I suppose would categorize it as a "disappointment" for me. "Touch and Go" is probably the best cut on the CD, followed by "Solar Sky." The vocals I added are OK, but probably won't have the shelf life of Helen's.

 

[producer57]

I auditioned tracks and got to listen the whole CD thanks to a friend of mine-Paul has a formula that works no doubt about it but I don't know who influenced him on this CD. It is strange that both he and Kenny G come out with projects that really do sound like they are BA influenced. What are they thinking??? BTW-Sales of contemporary jazz CDs are so bad right now (5200 this past week combined) you would think they would really want to make aCD that would get people excited. kenny has the platform-he chose not to use it.