The Omar Hakim Experience: We Are One

Rating: ★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Jerry Brooks (aka Mocean Worker, b)
Bob Franceschini (ts, ss)
Angel Rogers (v)
Gregoire Maret (hca)
Abdul Zuhri (g)
Rachel Z (ky)
Jimi Tunnell (g)
Scott Tibbs (kys)
Chieli Minucci (g)
Omar Hakim (d)

Label:

Ozmosis

July/2014

Catalogue Number:

CFD 003

RecordDate:

date not stated

There's no escaping the Weather Report influence, whether it's in a crop of re-issues from Pastorious and Vitous or here, in their former sticksman's contemporary offering. Indeed that Weather Report groover ‘Molasses Run’ is a stand-out on an otherwise hyper-produced but under-inspired collection of sophisticated pop and smooth R&B. Nowt wrong with that, but you'll find precious little jazz bite here. ‘Listen Up!’ has a tang of swagger and jaunt, while ‘Walk The Walk’ has a Stanley Clarke rock-bump to it. Hakim's drum work, as you'd expect is exemplary, notably on those up-tempo escapades. But otherwise it's the smooth-a-licious vibe of the likes of ‘Remember To Remember’ that dominates. George Benson may be the benchmark here, but somewhere amid the studio perfection a touch of soul has slipped away. That said, there's plenty who will enjoy this with the lights dimmed and a cocktail stirred, but others may doze off despite Maret's classy contributions.

Follow us

Jazzwise Print

  • Latest print issues

From £5.83 / month

Subscribe

Jazzwise Digital Club

  • Latest digital issues
  • Digital archive since 1997
  • Download tracks from bonus compilation albums during the year
  • Reviews Database access

From £7.42 / month

Subscribe

Subscribe from only £5.83

Never miss an issue of the UK's biggest selling jazz magazine.

Subscribe

View the Current
Issue

Take a peek inside the latest issue of Jazzwise magazine.

Find out more