INTRO...
2001
has been a semi-exciting year for music. For a start, many
musical gurus released their albums after long disappearance,
e.g. Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Mick Jagger,
Lenny Kravitz, Barbra Streisand, etc. Also, it is the year
we
pay homage to the late, great underrated Beatle George
Harrison. 2 Thumb Up salutes George's
contribution to Rock N'Roll and pop culture. To best summarize
2001's music scene, we came up with 10 breakthrough albums.
It's unfortunate that only one blues CD (Tony Bennett) is
represented and there are no Hong Kong CDs and motion picture
soundtrack on the list. It's a strong year, however, for jazz
and bass players (Cachaito & M2). Tribute albums also
make two cuts (Django NY & Sun).
We
hope that the good aspects of this year's top 10 carry the
lyrics of the incredible Vince
Guaraldi Trio tune,
"Christmas Time is Here...hope
that we can always see the spirit thru the year..."
Orlando
"Cachaito" Lopez
1. <Cachaito>
is the album of
the year!! While
the Buena Vista Social Club (BVSC) phenomenon has become a
kind of cliche, Cachaito is open-minded enough to add
risky elements to the traditional Cuban folk foundation that
once was BVSC's main ingredient to success. By breaking all
the rules, and with the help of funk-o-masters like Pee
Wee Ellis, Hugh Masekela & the funky turntable
sounds of DJ Dee
Nasty, Cachaito transforms and transcends Cuban
music into something hip and fresh to the year. However, Cachaito
also retains the traditional Cuban elements, notably featuring
the sweet and melancholic voice of Ibrahim
Ferrer. It is the innovation and intuition
that make this album one of the quintessential appetizers
of the 21st century. Purists may find it objectionable, but
true music lovers will find themselves returning to the CD
after a rain of shocking world events.
A
truly revolutionary album!!
2.<philadelphia
experiment> We call this the album with "three
trees." Doesn't the album cover look
like three trees due to the enormous afro of drummer Ahmir
Thompson, and the medium-size afro of keyboardist Uri
Crane. Christian
McBride is who really shines on this album. Just listening
to the hidden track of the overdubbed bass solo of "Just
The Two of Us." It outshines the original Bill Withers/Grover
Washington Jr. version.
Also features the vampire Pat
Martino on guitar. Why
Philly Exp is
such a phenomenon has
to do with the rehearsal nature
of the CD. These three excellent musicians know they are good,
so they do not conform to the studio recording standard. They
just jam!! What is better
than instant music than just jamming? Like instant noodles,
just add water. This
is not only an experiment; it is an experience!!
This
is the revival of New Orleans funk that was founded
by The Meters
in the 60's: though
Galactic has been doing
that for the past few years!! Ironically,
these guys are from North Florida. Call them the best-kept
secret from NF all you want, Mofro knows how to make
their music sound good. At times sounding like the original
funky Meters, while other times reminiscing the good
old days of Herbie
Hancock's Headhunters funk-jazz, these guys
come a long way to success. Now they are touring like
crazy. Robert Walter and George Sluppick are also featured
on this groundbreaking album. Producer
Dan Prothero has done it again!
4.
<Good Rockin' Tonight
-The
Legacy of Sun Records> To
call this the legacy of Sun Records (Sam Philips as
the owner), why not call it the legacy
of Elvis Presley.
Evidently, many artists featured on this album do imitate
Elvis' tone, notably Paul McCartney,
Bryan Ferry, Robert Plant.
Johnny Hallyday's
imitation is the most uncanny; you feel a real Elvis
singing in front of you. Chrissie
Hynde's rendition of "Mystery Train" has a
lot of stylistic patience, which is
a highlight. Another is a duet between Van
Morrison & the new Carl
Perkins with a black voice. Matchbox
20's "Lonely Weekend" is a delight
in itself. Of course, we have Elton
John imitating Jerry Lee Lewis (no
way that is Elton in my book) and Chris
Isaak's conglomeration of Elvis, Roy Orbison
& Johnny Cash!! In short, this is a must-have if
you are rockability fans. As long as there are people
singing tunes like "Blue Suede Shoes," the
world still has a light of hope.
5.
<Django
Reinhardt NY
Festival:Live at Birdland>
Another tribute
album; this time to the greatest jazz guitarist ever lived
- Django. If you have seen the Woody Allen movie "Sweet
& Lowdown" or has that CD, you will appreciate this
album even more. The style of the recording reminds me Robert
Altman's "Kansas City:" spontaneous
and impromptu. The recording of this CD is near
audiophile and it captures the somber yet nostalgic feeling
of the old Paris days with Django on guitar and Stephane Grappelli
on violin. It
brings back good old times of romanticism. Starring Bireli
Lagrene, Bucky
Pizzarelli, Babik Reinhardt on guitars.
Violinists Regina Carter
and Florin Niculescu also add period color.
A legendary tribute to the legendary Gypsy guitar virtuoso.
After
gaining his fame playing with Miles Davis & Eric Clapton,
Marcus
Miller is the most sought-after bassist in the recording industry.
No wonder: because he is the funkiest bassist alive! But not
only after M2 has Marcus earned his much deserved praise and
attained his distinctive voice.
M2 is a bassist CD; it contains complex
yet tight baselines, interactions among musicians, silent conversations
between instruments & a unique sense of humor. With
the help of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Hubert Laws, Maceo
Parker, Fred Wesley, Kenny Garrett, Chaka Khan, Mino Cinelu,
this CD represents power, grace and tranquillity. This is a
hymn to silence, a song to peace. This
is a year of the Bass!!
6.
<Marcus Miller M2>
7.
<Jay - Fantasy> After
the success of Jay's first album, Jay has become more of a
musical icon. Many people put hope in his second album, and
he hasn't disappointed. Though lacking the originality and
thoughtfulness of "Jay: Album," "Fantasy"
is full of pleasant surprises an is structurally close to
flawless. Songs like Daddy
I am Back
hits you right in the gut. "Love on West" reminds
us of Jay's first stunner "Lovely Woman.''
Sex vixxen Vivian Hsu continues
to shine on lyrics like "Can't Open Mouth."
A nice second attempt
for the Taiwanese singer-songwriter prodigy!!
After
his Vienna concert with Charlotte
Church & Placido Domingo last Christmas,
Tony Bennett returns once again to music scene with something
fresh & new. This time: a duet album. Since many people
like Elton John & B.B. King have released duet albums before,
Tony adds another dimension to it. He
sings the blues! Not
that he hasn't sung the blues before; but this time, he sings
it softer, with the help of long-term collaborator Ralph
Sharon Trio.
8.
<Tony Bennett Sings
the Blues- Playin' with My Friends>
Instead
of rushing songs like in his Unplugged show, Bennett patiently
sings the blues with his blues musician friends like B.B.
King, Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charlies and non-blues
musician pals like k.d.
lang, Kay Starr, Diana Krall. Listen
to Stevie Wonder on that harmonica-nothing
short of amazing! This is jazzy blues at its best.
Tony Bennett delivers his best performance since "I Left
My Heart in San Francisco."
Finally
a Mule CD devoted to their recently deceased bassist Allen
Woody. God bless him. Intelligently, Mule's
manager gathers the best rock bassists in the world to compile
this half-tribute/half-performance CD for Allen Woody (w/Allen
featured on one track), backing the genius of Warren
Haynes & Matt Abts. The rest is a bunch
of popular names such as
Jack Bruce, Mike Gordon, Chris Wood
& Bootsy Collins. This is a historical
monument of a jam band with genuinely funky sounds. This
is a bass album.
Taiwanese
Poet-Painter-Singer-Songwriter
Bobby Chen delivers again. Like his last album, 50 meter
is an inspiration after his travels. Sort of like a travel
guide. But
his music is always lyrical. It flows and flows and flows.
He is always out-of-tune: Desafinado.
Another mid-life crisis realization from a middle-age
man.
Orlando
"Cachaito" Lopez
nature
of the CD. These three excellent musicians know they are good,
so they do not conform to the studio recording standard. They
just jam!! What is better
than instant music than just jamming? Like instant noodles,
just add water. This
is not only an experiment; it is an experience!! 
Elton
John imitating Jerry Lee Lewis (no
way that is Elton in my book) and Chris
Isaak's conglomeration of Elvis, Roy Orbison
& Johnny Cash!! In short, this is a must-have if
you are rockability fans. As long as there are people
singing tunes like "Blue Suede Shoes," the
world still has a light of hope. 
It
brings back good old times of romanticism. Starring Bireli
Lagrene, Bucky
Pizzarelli, Babik Reinhardt on guitars.
Violinists Regina Carter
and Florin Niculescu also add period color.
A legendary tribute to the legendary Gypsy guitar virtuoso.
After
gaining his fame playing with Miles Davis & Eric Clapton,
Marcus
Miller is the most sought-after bassist in the recording industry.
No wonder: because he is the funkiest bassist alive! But not
only after M2 has Marcus earned his much deserved praise and
attained his distinctive voice.
M2 is a bassist CD; it contains complex
yet tight baselines, interactions among musicians, silent conversations
between instruments & a unique sense of humor. With
the help of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Hubert Laws, Maceo
Parker, Fred Wesley, Kenny Garrett, Chaka Khan, Mino Cinelu,
this CD represents power, grace and tranquillity. This is a
hymn to silence, a song to peace. This
is a year of the Bass!!
Listen
to Stevie Wonder on that harmonica-nothing
short of amazing! This is jazzy blues at its best.
Tony Bennett delivers his best performance since "I Left
My Heart in San Francisco."
Finally
a Mule CD devoted to their recently deceased bassist Allen
Woody. God bless him. Intelligently, Mule's
manager gathers the best rock bassists in the world to compile
this half-tribute/half-performance CD for Allen Woody (w/Allen
featured on one track), backing the genius of Warren
Haynes & Matt Abts. The rest is a bunch
of popular names such as
Jack Bruce, Mike Gordon, Chris Wood
& Bootsy Collins. This is a historical
monument of a jam band with genuinely funky sounds. 
This
is a bass album. 
