| Jazz |
How to describe such a beautiful album in just a few lines?
You probably aren’t familiar with Rubim De Toledo, so here’s an excerpt from his biography: Rubim de Toledo, an award-winning bassist and composer, blends the influences of his Brazilian heritage and his dedication to the jazz tradition to create a musical approach that is both refreshing and inspiring.
As a bassist, Rubim has had the privilege of accompanying numerous international artists such as Vince Mendoza, Mulgrew Miller, Wayne Bergeron, Terrell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Wycliffe Gordan, Peter Bernstein, Sean Jones, Jason Marsalis, Bob Mintzer, D.D. Bridgewater, Luis Bonilla, Victor Goines, Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Tomas Chapin, Ralph Bowen, Gary Smulyan, Peggy Stern, Dave Mancini, Hendrik Meurkens, Benny Sharoni, John Riley, Oliver Jones, Ross Taggart, Phil Dwyer, Brad Turner, John Stetch, Ingrid Jenson, Christine Jensen, the Doxas Brothers, Denzel Sinclair, Sienna Dahien, Cambell Riga, Gordon Gordina, Mary Chapin Carpenter, the Canadian Tenors, Laila Biali, Hilario Duran, Jens Lindemann, Alfie Zappacosta, the Legendary Platters, Jackie Richardson, Inti Illimani, and Oscar Valdez of Irakere.
All of this is so you know what to expect, because this album is incredibly rich in musicality, even in the vocal parts as heard in this video:
“The Drip” is a collection of warm rhythms that flow seamlessly, and the music’s arrangements are true treasures in which this bassist/composer immerses himself, offering us different sounds on each track. There’s no time to be bored; it’s jazz made for dancing into the night. The only problem is that nine tracks are too short because you get so swept up in the album that you feel dizzy when it suddenly stops. But that’s the effect that all excellent albums have.
It’s impossible to resist this Latin-infused music, whether it’s on bass or double bass, Rubim De Toledo excels in both instruments and clearly loves to provide us with warm tones, aided by excellent musicians. For “The Drip,” Rubim has invited singer Karimah, based in Edmonton, to join him as a collaborator on three songs, alongside a prestigious selection of pillars from the Western Canadian jazz scene.
The singer Karimah, whom I discovered through this album, brings a touch of African influence that adds to the success of this project. In that regard, she is just as commendable as Rubim De Toledo and his fellow musicians, who have now joyfully found their place on our list of essentials.
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, August 9th 2023
::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This album will be available for purchase here.
For now, you can already buy the single “Freedom Ain’t The Same.”