SOULIVE — Next (review)

SOULIVE — Next album cover Album · 2002 · Funk Jazz Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
darkshade
Soulive become a quartet on this album. Sam Kininger fills out the fourth slot on alto and tenor sax, with the original trio of Krasno and the two Evans brothers. Coming off the success of the previous album "Doin' Something", Soulive takes that sound even further on "Next". The production is top notch, maybe even a little slick since I feel like the drum sound is a little thin and it seems like the organ has been pushed back a little bit (while his foot pedals for the bass have been turned up). This is a minor gripe, as everything DOES sound good.

This album is real funky. Having Sam Kininger as a main band member means more sax, and he plays some great stuff. Some tracks he uses a wah pedal which gives it that Headhunters feel at times, but Sam plays different than Bennie Maupin, and the band just groove at all costs. What is also noticeable is the types of beats being utilized on some tracks has a real hip-hop vibe to them, even with some of the riffs played on guitar.

Of course it's no surprise the band were moving in a hip-hop direction when you have guests like Black Thought and Talib Kweli as guests on two tracks. If that isn't your thing, don't worry, this is still classic Soulive, in other words, instrumental funk/soul-jazz. They may have meant something by the title of this album, as the 'next' album is where the band really let loose on their hip-hop influences. For now, this album is great, slightly less than their first 2 albums and debut EP, but still essential for any Soulive fan.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

My Ship Hard Bop
WILLIE JONES III
Buy this album from MMA partners
Ice Breaking Post-Fusion Contemporary
DAG ARNESEN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Lee Ritenour & Dave Grusin : Brasil Latin Jazz
LEE RITENOUR
Buy this album from MMA partners
From The North - Gogo Penguin Live In Manchester Nu Jazz
GOGO PENGUIN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Anthony Braxton Saxophone Quartet : Sax QT (Lorraine) 2022 Third Stream
ANTHONY BRAXTON
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

03 Willie Jones III My Ship #NightIsAlive
WILLIE JONES III
snobb· 14 hours ago
Fall
SUNNY KIM
js· 1 day ago
Twilight
RANDY SCOTT
js· 2 days ago
Trifecta - Beck and Call - official video (taken from The New Normal)
TRIFECTA
js· 3 days ago
Phoenix
GRÉGORY PRIVAT
js· 3 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed