All About Jazz Review:
By Javier AQ Ortiz
July 24, 2002
Gito Baloi: Herbs & Roots
Quick and to the Point : Contempo Africanized jazz flavored by various feels led by bass guitar.
Bassist Gito Baloi presented his third album under his leadership after almost four years after his last release. Herbs & Roots is the result and lovers of contemporary jazz will most definitely like his production, composing, arranging and performing. His playing and vocalizations are as democratic as is the interaction of the supporting cast with his tasteful, funkified, and Africanized pop stances. Framed within a smoky and earthy jazz, swaying pinches of supplementary worldly musical sayings, this recording is characterized by radio friendliness with a chunky vibe.
Hinkwafo is vocalized and a comfortable ride that actually doesnt culminate until one arrives at Township Drive. Problem is, you dont arrive and keep cruising on the easy vibe... Location is party time after the drive. Vusi Maseko muses the piano with Balois sureness in Tiva and thats all is needed there. Xawane is a pretty tune in electronica. Zumba Funky is the type of tune smooth jazz stations would play during drive time to pep their audiences up. That's Right is nicely grounded on a cascading effect over a pocket of jazzy fun. Verdade, or truth in Portuguese, is a Latinized vehicle for Balois groove and he does well indeed. Herbs & Roots is aptly titled as it is just that, herbs and roots with the steel pans flavoring the air with sax... Harrow Road travels through urban grounds, hence, its jazz cosmopolitanism voiced by sax and a laid back punchy comfortable sense of abstraction in its rhythmic base. Sad Melody is a personal dedication that leans heavily on the melodic part, rather than in sadness; albeit one needs to be reminded that such an emotion can funnel beauty as well as any other. Ntyilo Ntyilo is a ballad well known in South Africa treated here with much feeling by the singing of Thuli Madlosi. The closers title has nothing to do with the Borg, as this Drone is more akin to meditative endeavors that would require stronger music than the usual fare associated with such practices. Miles Davis wouldve love to do his thing on this one as Marcus Wyatt does so well here.
