[.ca] Off The Record

From Amazon.co.uk:
Jordan has often been seen as the acceptable face of smooth jazz. I guess Off The Record comes from the other side of the face, then. Like in the bad old pop days of the late 1980s, there are almost as many producers deployed as there are musicians, although Lee Stone gets to do more than anyone else. We can also savour the decidedly mixed blessing of vocal interjections from Love-Child on a couple of tracks, plus vocal exhortations ("oh yeah!", "uh-huh?!", "mmm") on otherwise ho-hum instrumental tracks where Jordan sounds like Wes Montgomery practising musical shorthand. Most of the melodies barely rise above two-bar riffs, endlessly repeated. Vocalist Fay Simpson contributes well-judged and expressive vocals to "Keep Your Head Up", a song with a four-bar melody. The whole point of the record seems to be the soul-laced rhythm groove upon which Jordan drapes his minimalist arrangements, but the producers have gone for an identikit sound that it is of passing interest only. Production values are high, but content is optional. Style and substance are ships in the night, off the record. --Keith Shadwick

The Real Deal:
You wouldn't expect that Ronny could outdo "A Brighter Day," but believe me, this "Off the Record" is off the hook. You'll find even more 'signature' cuts here like 'Once or Twice' and '(The Theme From) Underworld' that you'll find yourself singing at work, at school, or on the train. His vocalists really bring a message to his music; Ronny's got a tale that's never been told!!! - plus a website that's tremendously innovative.

The Hotness:
This album is groovin and I feel like some hip hop artist today should take notes on what a tight beat is. The beats are tight and the flava is on point.

Off the hook!!:
From the electric retro funk sound of "Get Ready" (the intro to this album) you know the original Ronny 'So What' Jordan is back. Hear the oriental flavour introduced by rhythmic cymbals, lightly peppered with wah-wah and you know he came back armed with innovation - again! No Pay, No Play is my numero uno on this album, but I believe Ronny has two possible crossover gems in "Keep Your Head Up" (with Fay Simpson on vocals) and "Once or Twice" featuring Sy Smith although the former is a stronger bet. On "Floor & More" Ronny evokes recollections of "Tinseltown" (from the Quiet Revolution album) with a scintillating fusion of electric guitar and synth sounds and impeccable timing. "On the Record" threatens disco but delivers delicious jazz as the guitarist truly lets go on the longest track (9.24) on the album. Watch out for the lovely improvs around the third minute. Two thumbs up for this track, which leads into a slower rendition for the title track "Off the Record" that makes you want to reach for your wine glass and chill. Stay in that mood for "(The Theme From) Underworld" There is one track that annoys me on this album though; "Ronny You Talk Too Much". It has all the makings of a beautiful song but then the intrusive phone calls and spoken word of Love-Child ruin it. Fortunately Ronny proves on "Toe Jam" (featuring Excite) and the opening track "Get Ready" (with Love-Child) that he is still a master at fusing jazz with rap/spoken word. This album doesn't have a "The Morning After" which is my favorite Ronny Jordan track ever, but it is an outstanding album nonetheless. Having said that, it took three months for me to fall in love with "The Morning After" so you might as well just go ahead put on the record that I recommended this!

• Intro-Get Ready! (featuring Love Child)
• No Pay, No Play
• Keep Your Head Up (featuring Fay Simpson)
• Floor & More
• Once Or Twice (feturing Sy Smith)
• Ronny, You "Talk" Too Much
• On The Record
• Off The Record
• (The Theme from) Underworld
• Tow Jam (featuring Excite)