[.ca] In the World from ..

From Amazon.co.uk:
Over the last two decades, Olu Dara has been known principally as a regular collaborator with jazz reedsman David Murray, playing the cornet. All of this time, he's been operating a blues sideline, his talents also including a stark, Taj Mahal-influenced vocal delivery, coupled with an earthy amplifier-cranked guitar style. He can do it all, equally well. On this long-time-coming debut, he makes an inspired shackling together of Caribbean, African and New Orleans styles (these three being the very basics of its extremely varied ingredients). He works with either a rootsy sextet or as a grainy, sepia-shot one-man band, overdubbing cornet, guitar, drums and percussion on "Zora" and "Natchez Shopping Blues", everything recorded up-close, so we're sitting plumb in the middle of his intimately clanking songs. His son, Nas, raps on "Jungle Jay", with Melba Joyce leading the partying backing vocal posse throughout. "Your lips are juicy", succinctly goes one Afro-chant chorus, while further Caribbean harmonising wafts through from "Okra"'s steamy kitchen session. This was the genre stewpot of its year, maybe even the decade. --Martin Longley

A great eclectic album from a talented and personal musician:
This is Olu Dara's first CD, recorded decades after his reputation as one of the Blues's underground greats was well established. In this work, a lifetime acheivement for Dara, all his roots, from Blues to Jazz to African Tribal to spoken poetry, shine through in a subtle yet breathtaking performance. The album improves with each listening, so don't expect a collection of raucus pop hits. At times he is mellow and almost subversive, as in Young Mama or Rain Shower. Other times he can be raw and personal, in Father Blues and Natchez Shopping Blues. And his crowd-pleasing, likable songs, like Okra and Your Lips, have shades of meaning that only fully develop after many listenings. This is the kind of album you can grow up with and grow old with. A classic.

like father like son:
Im fairly young, so I grew up listening to Nas(olu Dara's son). But, out of curiosity, I bought Olu Dara's album. It was really great. I loved the mood or each song. My favorite song of course is the collaboration with Olu Dara and his son. Listening to this album I see where Nas got all of his musical skills from.

a great cd!!:
Olu Dara is an excellent muscian and a great live performer. This CD was in my player for months. It captures a mixture of blues, the southern muscial trandition, and new york jazz. Each track is unique and features compelling story lines.

Awesome CD:
I bought four new CDs today and this is the only one worth while. Every song on this track is great.

A classic:
The firt time I heard Olu Dara was at a concert at Yoshi's in Oakland, Ca, from that day on, I felt in love with his music, this cd is just a classic, I listen to it at least once a day. My favorite song is Harlem Country Girl...great to listen with lights off and a glass of wine....

• Okra
• Rain Shower
• Natchez Shopping Blues
• Your Lips
• Harlem Country Girl
• Zora
• Young Mama
• Bubber (If Only)
• Father Blues
• Jungle Jay
• Kiane