World Music Central,
CD Review
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Christine Vaindirlis - Dance Mama! (Ubuntu World Music, 2009)
Some day musicians and labels will release albums based on the energy of a particular season. Contemplative and soothing music will be released in the fall and winter months when the weather chills and sitting by a fireplace sipping hot chocolate or apple cider bodes well with simpler rhythms and melodies. Then when spring rolls around, and people toss the winter coats aside and get outside to join others, more rousing music makes sense. That’s when we would get out the jigs, reels, salsa and other dance music. It comes down to developing consciousness about how music affects the mind and body.
So why do I find myself reviewing two rousing CDs, a pan-African release, “Dance Mama!” by Christine Vaindirlis and a marching band from Portland, Oregon when all I want to do is curl up in bed listening to Bach cantatas or Gregorian chants? Both of these recordings boast fine qualities, punched up with delicious polyrhythms, rambunctious vocals and diversity of musical styles. But I feel under the spell of the changing season and I prefer music that calms my nerves at this time. I feel like sleeping, not marching or dancing. However, if these recordings were brought to my attention in July when I felt at my peak, they would have been glued to my CD player.
Ms Vaindirlis boasts her share of talent as a vocalist and music arranger. “Dance Mama!" has been pumped up with horns, polyrhythms and powerhouse vocals that swim their way through a variety of musical genres, pan-African (“Indaba” and “Down by the River”), sultry-smoky jazz (“Should I Make You Pay”), funk (“No More Drama”) and South African vocal harmonies (“Dance Mama!”). She even tosses in a bit of Afro-Latin salsa.
The vocalist effortlessly sails through these diverse musical styles. I envy her energy and enthusiasm, not to mention her record collection (which must contain a lot of American jazz with an emphasis on blues, New Orleans jazz and recordings from throughout the African continent). She possesses a good ear for horn arrangements and music production. No doubt we will be hearing more from this diva in years to come.
10/22/09
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