sade lovers live
Sade Lovers Live – No Ordinary Love
Something I Said — Vist with Wenso Ashby featuring Zsamé
Something I Said РWenso Ashby f/ Zsam̩
Twin Cities Daily Planet archives
Got a long road trip you have to take in the car by yourself and are at a loss for some first-class sounds to keep you company on the way? Out at the park taking a walk with the headphones on and need good stuff to feed your CD player? Kicking back at the crib on a lazy afternoon and want something you can put on the box and savor as you plop down in the easy chair and let the world pass you by for the day? Here’s an all-purpose cure for what you might lack: It goes by the name of Wenso Ashby, he of such soul sophisticato as is not to be denied.
Songsmith, producer and keyboardist, Wenso Ashby brandishes quality artistry of the first order and he’s released three strong albums to prove it. There’s Midnite Walkin’ (somebody came over the house and helped my copy grow feet before yours truly could even listen to it, which, for my two cents, qualifies as a better review than anything anyone could write), Wenso Ashby Live, featuring Zsamé, Q’Aisha and TaVanni; and his newest, Love Is So Amazing, featuring Zsamé. It’s the kind of music you never get tired of – not if you dig laid back, jazz-drenched magic that washes over you in a soothing wave and brightens your spirits like a dose of pure, unadulterated sunshine.
Ashby is one of the most fascinating pianists since Ramsey Lewis; if he don’t know nothin’ he sure knows how to lay down a tantalizing groove, tickling the ivories with exceptional taste and a world of finesse. For this project, he has enlisted the easy-on-the-ears services of splendid vocalists along with sax ace Willie Moore.
Listening to Wenso Ashby Live, you easily could think the thing was done in a studio – until the applause at the end of each cut –it’s that clean and tight. “Philly’s Groove” even brings in a sprinkling of funk, beautifully seasoning this straight-ahead, pocket-nailed gem. Look out for a sweet rendition of the Rufus classic “Ain’t Nobody.”
Love Is So Amazing is, well, amazing. The album leads off with the haunt-your-mind “Not Letting Go”. The song is one of those instantly agreeable numbers that from first hearing, is something you just can’t get out of your head. As is “Keep On Dreaming” (with incredible bassist Yohannes Tona sitting in). As gifted a songwriter as Wenso Ashby is, he readily might’ve made the whole disc from original material, but decided to include choice covers of Sade’s “No Ordinary Love,” Lisa Stansfield’s “Been Around The World” and Brian McKnight’s “Anytime”. Doesn’t matter. The entire disc works just fine, it’s one of those rare outings you can enjoy from beginning to end without skipping a single cut. And, then, when you’re done, you can quite contentedly play the whole thing all over again.
Twin Cities music is renowned throughout the country and, for that matter, some parts around the world, as a wellspring of phenomenal talent. Said reputation is formidably upheld by Ashby, a consummate musician with cast iron chops. He’s got that often elusive quality on which the best producer-instrumentalists rely, an infallible ear for intricacies that give an overall sound its irresistibly compelling signature.
There could be no better fit than Wenso Ashby featuring Zsamé to play St. Paul’s vaunted Selby JazzFest—lovers of mellow music would do well to be in attendance. The Twin Cities have seen the recent loss of two smooth jazz radio stations, and no one has stepped into the breach to rectify this situation. So a healthy audience, left with nowhere to turn on their radio dials, needs to grab every available opportunity to listen to artists this gifted.
Composer, producer and keyboard man Wenso Ashby is one of the best at what he does, creating a lush tapestry of sound that, at times, is nothing short of spellbinding—especially when front lady, singer-songsmith Zsamé is at the microphone on splendid vocals. There are three albums: Midnite Walkin‘, Wenso Ashby Live, featuring Zsamé, Q’Aisha, and TaVanni, and the newly released Love Is So Amazing, featuring Zsamé. You can’t wrong with any of them and, indeed, are apt to sooner or later end up owning them all if getting locked into a sweet, laid back groove is your thing.
How did your musical partnership come to be?
Wenso Ashby: I came here from D.C. on a visit and was listening to the radio. I didn’t know who she was, but I loved the voice. I called the station [but] couldn’t connect with her. A year later, I came back. Somebody told her I was in town, looking for a vocalist, so I met with her.
Zsamé: I wasn’t singing at the point—just goin’ to work, goin’ home. Daily grind.
Ashby: We talked. She listened to [my] CD and liked it. Later, we went out to a [rehearsal] area. I asked to do some runs, and she did it a cappella. On the spot. I was like, wow. I immediately said, “I’m gonna stay here.” We started working together. Now, it’s four years later.
Each of you easily could go solo. Why stay hooked up?
Ashby: If you look at the [new] album, it features Zsamé and it features the saxophone player Willie Moore. Production is what I really love to do—to stay in the background.
Zsamé: I always felt the music. It’s funny, because [earlier] I’d been doing vocals for a local hip-hop group, recording at Flyte Time, but when I looked at my music collection, I owned mostly smooth jazz, R&B, soul music. That was the music I was feelin’. This was the opportunity, when I started performing with Wenso, to [be] in my comfort zone.
You write for the ensemble?
Zsamé: I do. And for the live CD, it’s actually kind of funny. When we first met, he brought over this music and wanted me to write words for some of the songs [in the vein] he had in mind when he wrote the music. When I brought [them] back, it was totally different.
Ashby: Than the way I wrote it.
Zsamé: So, he always jokes about that. “Just like a woman. It came back totally different from the way I gave it to her.” But, you know, I have my own originality within what we’re doing—even when we’re doing covers.
Ashby: She can capture the essence of any song. If she hears it, she can capture it.
How is it performing together onstage?
Ashby: We do the songs over and over, but each performance is a little different. That’s where the intuitive stuff comes in. She’ll go off and do something. Willie will do something. You know how it is. The words may be the same, but the way you feel changes. Each time she sings, it’s a new spark. So, I’m always, “What can I do to enhance that?” I never get tired of hearin’ what she does.
You also have another singer on board.
Zsamé: Deynn Hampton. She does background vocals.
Ashby: She could be an individual artist, too. The thing that works for us as a group is that everybody’s willing to come in and, like Boston [the NBA Celtics] did this year in basketball? All them people, stars, but they put their personal games aside to be a team. I just say here’s the song, here’s the concept, let’s go and do this.
About the Author
Coming: Angels Don’t Really Fly EP by Dwight Hobbes & The All-Star Hired Guns featuring Alicia Wiley. The crew: Me, Alicia Wiley, Stanley Kipper, Chico Perez, Jeff “Boday” Christensen, Aaron “Orange A.C.” Cosgrove and Yohannes Tona. Singer-songwriter Dwight Hobbes recorded the single “Atlanta Children” (BeatBad Records) and gigged 10 years in the Long Island/NYC area, including The Other End, Kenny’s Castaways and My Fathers Place. Fronted the Boston blues band Midlight. In Minneapolis, Hobbes opened for David Daniels at First Street Entry, James Curry at Terminal Bar, sat in with Yohannes Tona, Alicia Wiley at Sol Testimony’s Soul Jam, The New Congress at Babalu, Willie Murphy at the Viking Bar and Wain McFarlane & Jahz at Lucille’s Kitchen. Dwight Hobbes still drops in at the occasional open mic around town. Dwight Hobbes has written for ESSENCE, Reader’s Digest, Washington Post, Minneapolis Star Tribune, St. Paul Pioneer Press, City Pages, Mpls/St. Paul, MN Law & Politics, Pulse of the Twin Cities, Twin Cities Daily Planet, Women & Word, San Diego Union-Tribune, The Circle, to Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (where he contributes the commentary columns Hobbes In The House and Something I Said. He’s spoken his mind over National Public Radio, Minnesota Public Radio and KMOJ in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Was regularly featured as guest commentator on NewsNight Minnesota (KTCA-Minneapolis/St. Paul) and Spectator (Minneapolis Television Network). His monthly column “Hobbes In The House” in MN Spokesman Recorder comments on domestic abuse and rape. His plays are Shelter – produced at Mixed Blood Theatre by Pangea World Theater, Dues – produced by Mixed Blood Theatre, University of Southern Illinois in Point of Revue, selected for Bedlam Theatre’s 10-Minute Play Festival and published by Playscripts, Inc. You Can’t Always Sometimes Never Tell – produced by Theater Center Philadelphia, Long Island University, reading at The Kennedy Center and published in the anthology CENTER STAGE, In the Midst – produced by Long Island University, starring Samuel E. Wright. Hobbes spoke on the panel “Farewell To August Wilson” at the Guthrie Theater, broadcast on Conversations With Al McFarlane (KFAI, KMOJ). Twin Cities Daily Planet articles archived at www.tcdailyplanet.net/dwighthobbes
a spark for the party;?
music is good, but dvd music videos always spark a conversation, so give your take on some great dvd videos, my suggestions are “vicious cycle tour” lynrd skynrd,,,also “sade”, lovers live.
The entire Roof top concert is gtreat! (“THE” as in the first one..ifyou dont kniow who did it, your stupid!)
|
|
Customized artistic image of Sade using for commissioning a Genuine Oil Painting of Sade in highest professional quality, completely 100% hand-painted by high-skilled oil portrait artist. Art style: classical. All sizes available. You have always been dreaming about possessing a genuine hand-painted oil painting of Your Greatest Idol Sade but you are not sure whether you can buy one because genuine hand-painted oil paintings are often very expensive?We can help you. Just specify all your needs regardingwhat to paintfavorite backgrounds of your choice (e.g.sunshine, flowers, abstract patterns, on stage etc…)favorite colori… |
|
|
SADE Lovers Live – Custom Framed Original Ad – Framed Music Poster/Print SADE Lovers Live – Custom Framed Original Ad 42×24cm 23mm black wood frame with white mat Glazed with plexiglass… |
|
|
Sade Poster Lovers Live This poster is 12 by 12 inches approximately and is in mint condition. This poster is 2-sided. It is shipped rolled in a hard cardboard tube…. |
|
|
Sade – Lovers Live $7.13 Sade fans may experience a range of emotions while watching the first-rate Lovers Live, but one thing they won’t feel is shortchanged–not with nearly two hours of concert footage, 22 songs (including almost all of her Lovers Rock album), and DVD bonus features galore. That sultry, soulful Sade sound is in full effect throughout the concert (filmed at two Southern California locations in 2001), br… |
|
|
Lovers Rock/ Lovers Live (DVD & CD) $8.94 No Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: DVDArtist: SADETitle: LOVERS LIVE/LOVERS ROCKStreet Release Date: 11/25/2003… |
|
|
Lovers Live $3.75 Sade’s studio recordings are so pristine that plans for a concert album at first sounded more like a way to dig deeper into the gold mine. But rather than simply rehashing a tall stack of romantic pop-R&B hits, Lovers Live documents a surprisingly vibrant live group and its warm namesake (but hardly spotlight-hogging) singer. Taken from two California dates on 2001’s Lovers Rock tour, the disc ref… |
|
|
Sade – Lovers Live [VHS] $14.98 Sade fans may experience a range of emotions while watching the first-rate Lovers Live, but one thing they won’t feel is shortchanged–not with nearly two hours of concert footage, 22 songs (including almost all of her Lovers Rock album), and DVD bonus features galore. That sultry, soulful Sade sound is in full effect throughout the concert (filmed at two Southern California locations in 2001), br… |
|
|
Album de Sade: Lovers Live, Soldier of Love, Stronger Than Pride, Diamond Life, Lovers Rock, Promise, Love Deluxe, Remix Deluxe (French Edition) $14.14 Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l’essai gratuite au club de livres de l’éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d’un million d’ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d’articles Wikipedia sur : Lovers Live, Soldier of Love, Stronger Than Pride, Diamond Life, Lovers Rock, Promise, Love Deluxe, Remix Deluxe. Non illustré. Mises à jour gratuites en ligne. Extrait : Lover Live e… |