Winner 2007 ABC Newcastle Music Awards Best Jazz Category
'Vines Of Time'
QUOTES & ENDORSEMENTS
What people are saying about 'Ayla'......
Kevin Somerville - Internationally renowned recording artist.
"Lovely music" "I found the music covered such a wide range of styles
and subjects that it was like listening to several different groups".
Ford Ray - session musician, ex Bee Gees, Daly Wilson Big Band,
Eric Jupp orchestra.
"I love the CD...stunning stuff".
The musicianship is of such a high standard, it all sounds easy, perhaps the defining characteristic of professionalism.
If there is a theme, it is of course Latin and the tracks that give the album most of its character are the pieces from "I amour fou" through to the end. Also, for me, "Not a Long Time" is the pick of the songs as a song, because it has a distinctive melody that could be sung without the backing and be recognised.
A lot of nice playing is on show here, particularly the guitar and cello bits, most of the guitar solos are pretty and weave nicely through the changes with some surprises, but not enough to make you stop talking to listen. The piano provides competent backing throughout and in "Opening" particularly, it shows creativity and width of ideas. Rhia's singing is musical, sexy and nimble, strong enough to carry the message but yielding enough to fill a backing track with warmth.
Percussion is unobtrusive and tight, adding and supporting rather than dominating. In fact, for most of the album, reflection and graciousness are the feeling this album offers the world. There are no angry sounds, no disturbing messages and no huge egos demanding one's undivided attention.
In other words, this is a very pleasant album to have playing in the background while you read a book, meditate, work, or interact with your friends. From "Sumer Prelude" to "Opening", oddly placed at the end, it eases its way into one's presence and moved through the tracks gently offering calm competence to lull and support positive feelings in the listener.
It is evocative of Jobim and Mendez. A welcome return to a world of beautiful sounds, gentle, even loving feelings and optimism.
Well done 305. I play the album often while I am writing for the reasons I have expressed here and thank you all for it.
