Despite The Name I was Not Completely Enamored With The Album

Original Release Date: 1994
Release Date (CD): January 27, 1998
Genre: Contemporary Jazz
Label: GRP Records
Number of Discs: (1)

I officially got hooked on Marc Antoine in 1999 after I heard several of the tracks from his then new CD Madrid on my local National Public Radio (NPR) station. I was listening to Chicago Public Radio when I listened to a story on the international Jazz artist and made it a point to listen for him on the local Smooth Jazz radio station. Sure enough around the middle of 1999, I heard several releases from his then new album Madrid. So began a musical love affair that continues to this day.

In the world of Smooth Jazz, the rhythm guitar, like the Bass, is an anomaly, albeit a very enjoyable anomaly. So if you enjoy listening to rhythm guitar music in its pure uninterrupted form then you will enjoy Marc Antoine. Born in Paris, France, raised in Western France, and now making his home in Madrid, and Los Angles, Classic Soul is another (compact disc) release for Marc Antoine on the GRP label.

Produced and largely written by Antoine, Classic Soul, once again offers the listener an eclectic blending of music from Spain, Brazil, and Africa as well as American jazz-fusion. In addition to playing the guitar Antoine plays the keyboards, and does drum programming, while Jimmy Haslip plays bass and Sam Riney, does flute and saxophone duties on the album. Lenny Castro, Juliet Prater, and Steve Reid all play percussion.

Classic Soul races out of the starting gate with the super-charged Smart But Casual, a percussion rich number with a smattering of background vocals to make the song interesting. The track is not the best vehicle for Antoine’s rather quiet style of play; the result is a lot of percussion and guitar riffs that just along for the ride. But the track does have a funky jazz laden edge that might appeal to some.

The album doesn't really hit me until track No. 3, P.C.H. (Pacific Coast Highway) with its ode to George Benson type scatting with guitar and voice; the combination is most delightful. The next track Unity is all Antoine and his guitar. The number has an up-tempo flamingo melody that I find hard to resist, while the underlying bass laced rhythm provides the song with infectious and danceable beat. This up-tempo dance-fest is increased on the next track Universal Language, with some strange background vocals thrown in for, well I really don’t know since I could not understand a word of it, but the track still resonated with me.

Out of the next four tracks, only two, really appealed to me; track No. 6 Timeless Line, with its mellow underpinnings, and; the title track Classic Soul (track No. 9), with its beautiful saxophone and flute solos.

As the last strings of the last track faded I realized that I did not like Classic Soul as much as Madrid, but I enjoyed it enough to make it a permanent part of my collection. And that is fine; I do not have to like every track of an album to enjoy the overall package; Classic Soul will not doubt have enough substance to appeal to most, if not all Marc Antoine fans.

Track Listing:

1. Smart But Casual
2. French Dream
3. P.C.H. (Pacific Coast Highway)
4. Unity
5. Universal Language
6. Timeless Line
7. Follow You Bliss
8. New Boundaries
9. Classic Soul