CD reviews

By: North County Times | Wednesday, January 17, 2007 12:32 PM PST ∞

B+ "Totally Rad"

Terry Matsuoka

Crunchy Sandwich

It's been six years since San Diego singer-songwriter Terry Matsuoka released his debut album. That's a long time between releases, but Matsuoka at least has the decency to reward his fans for the wait with an album full of strong songs and solid playing.

Those who have seen him perform around town are in for a treat. While Matsuoka often (perhaps usually) plays as a solo act with acoustic guitar to accompany his singing, he has a fuller sound here on his second album. Matsuoka used his studio and his own multitude of instruments (bass, keyboards, drums) to come up with a virtual band. "You'd Be Surprised" (the best song on the CD) appears twice ---- both as an acoustic song and with the full virtual band, providing an interesting contrast in sounds. The verdict? Matsuoka's singing has a purity to it and perhaps a lack of heft that might be better suited to the sparser arrangement.

More surprises await: On "Sour Cream & Chives" he introduces some hip-hop elements that provide a fun edge, while "Beyond" has some pretty heavy electric guitar and an alt-rock groove.

Throughout, his songwriting is interesting enough ("El Cajon," "Penny Cup" and "There Goes My Baby" all have decadently sticky pop hooks), and the echo effect on his voice adds enough oomph to the full-band tracks to ensure that the album never fails to charm.

Terry Matsuoka plays Friday at Taylor's Brewhouse in San Diego.

---- Jim Trageser

Staff Writer

B "Black Bone Collective"

Black Bone Collective

Self-released

An unlikely but very likable coupling of a straight-ahead blues band with a powerhouse R&B singer, San Diego's Black Bone Collective sounds a bit like a long-lost late '60s experiment ---- but without sounding dated. The five men playing behind singer Rosenilyne Hopson create a thick, swirling psychedelic electric blues (think Humble Pie or Savoy Brown), while Hopson has a classic soul sound as if she came out of Memphis, Detroit or Philly back in the day.

The band and Hopson combine on a jazzy arrangement to burnish "Willow Weep for Me" to a deep, luxuriant sheen (not sure which of the guitarists solos here, but it's a gem). So it's a touch disappointing that none of the band's own songs comes close to capturing the purity of magic heard on "Willow."

None of the songs is bad or even boring. But neither do any of them stick in your head the way the band's playing does. The traditionally styled "Riverside Blues" is probably the best of the band's own songs (and Hopson stretches out to the purest blues she sings here), and even its most memorable for the musicianship the band displays in playing it.

These six folks have got some serious chops musically, and as much as this disc sizzles, one can only imagine how good they must be live. But their album lacks the sort of show-stopper that could really put them on the map.

Black Bone Collective plays Friday at THEATRX in Escondido.

---- Jim Trageser

Staff Writer

JAZZ

A "Sonny, Please"

Sonny Rollins

Doxy Records

Too often in jazz, we fans agonize over those of our heroes who left us too soon. "What would Bird be playing today?" "What would Miles sound like now?"

Well, Sonny Rollins was there in the late '40s and early '50s alongside Bird and Miles, when bebop and modern jazz were birthed. Helped bring them into the world.

Is it his fault he didn't die tragically young? That he's still blowing as hard as ever, still making music that lives and breathes and inspires and elevates?

What would Sonny Rollins sound like in 2007?

Powerful and muscular, as evidenced on his new studio release, out Tuesday. With as gorgeous a tone on saxophone as ever. Improvising solo passages equal parts daring and beauty. Absolutely in command of his music, surrounded by top-tier talent (Steve Jordan, Clifton Anderson, Bobby Broom, Bob Cranshaw, Kimati Dinizulu) grand enough to both support and push his own playing.

What does Sonny Rollins sound like?

He sounds like one of the most talented and visionary of jazz players to ever pick up a saxophone, still going strong more than half a century after he first started setting the world on its ear.

---- JT