Ousley, Jamie / A Sea Of Voices
Album: A Sea Of Voices   Collection:Jazz
Artist:Ousley, Jamie   Added:Jan 2012
Label:Tie Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2012-03-10 Pull Date: 2012-05-12 Charts: Jazz
Week Ending: May 6 Apr 29 Apr 22 Apr 15 Apr 8 Apr 1 Mar 25 Mar 18
Airplays: 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2

Recent Airplay
1. Apr 30, 2012: Jazz Special
Alfonsia Y El Mar, With You, Steam
4. Apr 13, 2012: No Cover, No Minimum
Rocky Top
2. Apr 26, 2012: Love Den
With You
5. Apr 03, 2012: Rebop
Alfonsia Y El Mar
3. Apr 17, 2012: Rebop
Rocky Top
6. Mar 27, 2012: Rebop
With You

Album Review
Be Sharp
Reviewed 2012-02-26
Bright sounding, easy to enjoy, mainstream jazz. Most songs done by a tight trio comprising piano, bass & drums; this core is augmented by a female singer on #4, a Latin percussionist on nos. 5 & 7, and another pianist on #10. Double bassist & composer Jamie Ousley teaches at Florida International University in Miami and performs in the south Florida region. There are five Ousley compositions here (several with watery inspiration) plus an interesting, eclectic variety of other things mixed in.

No FCC issues.

1 ** Up-tempo, joyous, exuberant. Solid ensemble playing; each player takes a solo.(6:39)

2 * Mid-tempo. Upbeat, jazzy improv on an Irving Berlin love song. Piano leads most of the way. Bass & drums take over near the end. Good but a bit ordinary. (7:16)

3 ** Hip 60s sound with a good melody. tight ensemble work. Improv on the piano with good propulsive rhythm on bass & drums. (5:26)

4 ** Slow. Trad folk song. Duet by female vox & bass. Vocal is parts English, Japanese, non-verbal. Track is lovely but hard to classify: not quite jazz, not quite Americana. (4:06)

5 *** Up-tempo with some syncopation. Interesting jazz reading of a well-known country hit. Bright, joyful playing on piano; exceptional play on bass. Made me smile. (4:36)

6 ** Slow. Very tranquil & lyrical, like a lullaby. Play early morning or late evening. Pretty melody on piano is answered on bass. Brushes on the drums. (6:15)

7 Coldplay song. Somber bowed bass, then music you could hear getting groceries. (5:55)

8 ** Mid to fast. Classic nightclub jazz, led mostly by piano with a cheery tune. Bass takes a terrific solo in the middle. Just a hint of drums, till he takes a solo toward the end. (5:34)

9 **½ Slow, peaceful and spiritual. Gorgeous piano. Just enough bass & drums. (5:17)

10 *** A gem! Argentine composer Ariel Ramírez’s song, about the suicide in the sea of poet Alfonsina Storni, is a suite: an up-tempo bass solo placed between 2 tangos played on piano (by Argentine Gabriel Saientz) w bass accompaniment. Sophisticated, stylish. (5:37)

Track Listing
1. Hymn Of The Tides   6. Loving Beauty
2. How Deep Is The Ocean   7. Swallowed In The Sea
3. Steam   8. With You
4. Shenandoah   9. Holy Water
5. Rocky Top   10. Alfonsia Y El Mar