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Elly Roberts reviews
Manhattan Records (EMI)
- Cat.no: 3547382
- Released: March 2006
- Rating: 10/10
Not only does Raul Madon look a dead-ringer for Soul legend Stevie Wonder, he has the voice to match.
Funnily enough Stevie plays harmonica on a track- Expressions Of Love. Coincidentally, both are blind. Bursting withgorgeous harmonies and golden melodies, Madon has cleverly fused Latinoprinciples with a standard Soul/Jazz ethos – it all goes back to hisformative years, or maybe his genes.
Son of Argentine father who was a pro dancer and Afro-American mum, he wasraised in New Mexico, near Route 68. Initially playing drums, he moved toguitar after finding a Miles Davis – Charlie Parker album in his dad’scollection, which in his own words, “opened up a new world.” It broughtfresh ideas such as improvisation, a quality he now uses through his own’mouth trumpet’, featured on the title track.
He also discovered othersounds; the rhythmic ‘Malambo’ and Tango, the South American folk genres,strongly influencing Never Get Enough. His jazz thing slips throughExpressions Of Love, aided by Wonder. A virtuoso guitarist and consummatesinger, he’s opened his musical heart for all to hear, on a highlyaccessible collection.
Rising American star, Jason Mraz, (who I saw supporting James Bluntrecently), contributes a song and a sing on Keep On Hoping. Most interestinginclusion is an indigenous percussive lead, I Would Do Anything as SammyFigeroua and Midon go head to head. Lyrically he ventures into love, hopeand deep emotions, though never soppy.
Bonus track, Where Is The Love brings Roberta Flack’s classic bang up todate, as Midon brilliantly duets with Holland’s top songbird Traincha(Treintje Oosterhuis) lead singer with now defunct Total Touch. Produced bylegendary tweeker Arif Mardin (Barbara Streisand) and Joe Mardin.
With Jack Johnson’s lip efforts being a big hit in the UK, surely Midon hasto be a success.
A magnificent debut.
Weblink:Raul Midon.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. State Of Mind
2. If You’re Gonna Leave
3. Keep On Hoping
4. Mystery Girl
5. Waited All My Life
6. Everybody
7. Expressions Of Love
8. Sittin’ In The Middle
9. Suddenly
10. Never Get Enough
11. Sunshine (I Can Fly)
12. I Would Do Anything
13. All In Your Mind
14. Where Is The Love (Bonus track)
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.