The Zeke Martin Project – U4RIA – G Funk Money Wiz, 37:31 ***½:
(Zeke Martin – drums, Sean Berry – saxophone, Yusaku Yoshimura – keyboards & harmonica, Rozhan Rasman -bass and Nina Pralour – vocals on Summertime)
Putting together seven jazz songs to cover, while adding a splash of funk may sound difficult to some jazz audiophiles. The Zeke Martin Project deliver such an album with ease and splendor that even the wary jazz cover fan will appreciate each track on U4RIA for what it is – simply enjoyable. Boston-based drummer Zeke Martin gathered a group of very talented musicians to take on such greats as Eddie Harris’ Freedom Jazz Dance, Coltranes’s Naima, Stanley Turrentine’s Sugar and Gershwin’s Summertime.
If the live shows are anything like U4RIA, I can’t wait to see ZMP in person. There’s an energy on this album that isn’t evident in other studio released jazz albums. The vocal in Summertime by Nina Pralour takes the listener back to the good ol’ days when powerful voiced women teased the crowd with their tone and presence.
Here’s 37 minutes time worth taking to listen to an excellent jazz cover album.
TrackList:
1. Freedom Jazz Dance
2. Afro Blue
3. (Lee’s) Funny Valentine
4. Summertime
5. Naima
6. Sugar (Gula)
7. Teen Town
— Paul Pelon IV
