If you know Nicola Conte, you know that his music is the highest quality. This is not electronica. It's not electronic jazz. There are no samples or artificial beats. There are five different singers, nine horn players including Greg Osby on sax, and Conte on guitar, as well as harp, congas, and vibes. The only keyboard used is piano. Nicola Conte calls these thirteen songs, "Rituals".

1. Karma Flower
2. The Nubian Queens
3. Like Leaves in the Wind
4. Love In
5. Awakening
6. Paper Clouds
7. I See All Shades of You
8. Macedonia
9. Song For the Seasons
10. Red Sun
11. Black is the Graceful Veil
12. Caravan
13. Rituals

Conte does vocal jazz with a large helping of Bossa Nova, as well as smooth instrumentals that have too much of a groove to be lumped in with the wasteland of "smooth jazz." His work has the easygoing feel of lounge, but it is generally more orchestrated. Although Conte is Italian, the lyrics are English. The only cover is Duke Ellington's "Caravan," and it fits in with Conte's classic, classy, and somewhat retro sound.

This is cocktail music at the highest level, without schmaltz but soft and romantic, and slightly exotic moods. "Rituals" is simply and wholly beautiful songs and melodies.

~ Dave Howell

Add a Comment