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review by Bill Binkelman The duo of Lorraine Rousseau (flute) and Robert Carlton (acoustic and electric guitars) continue to show their talent for crafting instrumental music that sits comfortably at the crossroads of smooth jazz and adult contemporary (with a short detour to new age sometimes). On this album, the two musicians are joined by a fine crew of accompanists (Mike Francis, guitars; Ray parker, piano and keys; Tom Szczesniak, bass; Brain Barlow, drums and percussion, Vernon Dorge, saxophone; and Roman Borys, cello). The actual makeup of the ensemble varies song-by-song but everyone plays together with skill, never stepping on each other or "dueling" for prominence, although obviously guitar and flute (more often than not) take the lead on each song. All of the material here is written either by the duo or arranger Chris Dedrick or is a collaboration of the three. Musically, there is a blend of cheery uptempo numbers with more subdued and quiet tracks, although the music on Visionary World is neither too serene nor too revved-up to detract from the overall mood, which is ideally suited for either sunny afternoon reading or as background music for informal gatherings with family and friends. While the CD can also be listened to directly (it stands up under close inspection, due to solid production/engineering and faultless artistic performances), I'd wager you may start to daydream after a few songs, as the mood of the recording lends itself to just that. Selections range from the softly swaying opening number, "Song of your Heart," featuring flute, rhythm guitar, piano and a sax solo in the bridge, to the somewhat reflective and haunting "Until we meet Again," on which synth strings color the song with faint nostalgic textures and the gently rolling melody resembles some of the better efforts of pianist Jim Chappell. I prefer the softer and less jazzy numbers here, generally, such as the delicate interplay of guitar and flute on "Beyond Words" where both acoustic and electric guitars come into the picture. "Remember When" starts off as a slow guitar/keyboard tune with sorrowful flute taking the music in a decidedly somber direction, but unforced midtempo trap kit rhythms (snare, high-hat, bass) combine with the acoustic guitar and subtle Mediterranean shadings to yield a song that bears resemblance to Chris Spheeris' work on Europa. Even though sax features prominently on several numbers (such as the playfully swinging jazz tune "All Around Us"), I would hesitate to lump Visionary World with, for example, recordings from a typical smooth jazz artist, whose music probably hews closer to an urban and quasi-rhythm and blues sensibility. Now and then, a small dose of funk appears (check out the Fender Rhodes and electric guitar parts on "The Only Treasure") but more often than not the mood is lighter. While rhythms play a part on nearly every song, they are anchored in "pop" or adult contemporary sensibilituies. Even though they are "slicker" than, for example Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel, Rousseau and Carlton still play with more sincerity and warmth than most commercially successful pop and smooth jazz artists (at least the ones I'm familiar with). I certainly wish I could hear music this good on the radio in my hometown of Minneapolis. Visionary World may not set your heart on fire or get your feet moving, but it will entertain you with catchy melodies, easy-going rhythms, and music that is accessible without sounding generic. Sometimes, you simply want to hear something downright pleasant, and this is one of those CDs. |
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