In its finest form, the concept of fusion in music represents an ideal blend of a wide variety of sources and influences, to create a unique vision that defines exactly who the artist is. And when that artist is as capable and gifted as the outstanding vocalist and songwriter Ron Boustead, the result is Mosaic, his newest CD and his first recording since his acclaimed 2006 release, Blend. The album weaves a wide variety of musical motifs, colors and influences, performed by a remarkable assemblage of musicians, to create an aural pastiche and a finely-honed musical statement.
Clearly, the focus is on Ron's compelling and emotive vocals, but each piece is crafted like a perfectly designed setting for the jeweler's stone that will be highlighted in its midst. Boustead has contributed four collaborative originals, along with four re-imaginations of songs by some of the greatest songwriters in popular music, including Jon Lucien,
Bill Withers,
Carole King and
James Taylor. Billy Larkin and the contemporary Brazilian composer Leo Minax provided two more gems to the collection.
Ron's singing has been compared to that of jazz icons
Mark Murphy and Mose Allison, though not only is his voice entirely his own, but also the manner in which he uses it. The arrangements here fully exploit his broad emotional and textural range, from dulcet mellowness to graceful swing; and also occasionally blend in additional vocals to create a sonic context that further enhances the expressiveness.
The musicians are culled from the various corners of the genres of Jazz, Latin, World and Contemporary. Some are only present on a single piece; others are on multiple tracks, laying a solid foundation for the musical structure.
Three tracks feature an outstanding quartet of keyboardist Bill Cantos (who also arranged all three pieces), drummer Mike Shapiro, guitarist Ramon Stagnaro and bassist Brian Bromberg, whose bent notes and woody resonance calls to mind the incredible playing of Richard Davis on Van Morrison's Astral Weeks. Ron's longtime collaborator Michael McGregor provides keyboards and programming on three more, all in the company of the versatile and multifaceted guitarist Pat Kelley. Keyboard wizard Gregg Karukas plays on two songs, as does percussionist Munyungo Jackson and pianist/organist Mitchell Forman.
A veritable Who's Who of top-level jazz artists are featured prominently on six tracks - trumpeter Rick Braun, tenor saxophonist
Kirk Whalum, flautist Katisse Buckingham, saxophonist Steve Hoskins and pianists
Bill Cunliffe and
Fred Hersch - all of whom are individually suited to the musical message Ron envisioned on their respective songs.
The repertoire includes a diverse palette, all seamlessly blended into the flow of the album, opening with Leo Minax and Nancy Strauss' Moon Song, an infectiously grooved Bossa Nova in an unusual 7/8 time. Wonderfully enhanced by Rick Braun's trumpet fills and excellent solos by Cantos and Stagnaro, the mesmerizing atmosphere is a perfect start to the album.
Kirk Whalum's deeply resonant and soulful tenor sax adds a powerful depth to the beautiful soul/love anthem, No Me Without You. Co-written by Ron and Swedish funk star Andreas Aleman, it also features Aleman on keys and programming, and is embellished by
Arnold McCuller's supporting vocal.
Katisse Buckingham's facile flute adds a fascinating texture to the Latin Hip-Hop atmosphere of Everything Be OK, a collaboration by Boustead and Michael McGregor (who also adds keys and programming), driven by Kelley's very funky guitar and featuring a virtuosic flute solo. Latin flavors are also front and center on Careless Wind, by Ron and
Fred Hersch, whose piano is the driving force on this up-tempo smoker, further stoked by the subtle, but relentless rhythms of percussionist
Luis Conte and drummer Oscar Seaton.
Another jazz piano master,
Bill Cunliffe is a featured soloist on a crafty Jazz/Bossa treatment of
Carole King's Wishful Thinking, built on splashes of Kelley's guitar chords, Steve Hoskins' tenor and McGregor's keyboards and programming. Hoskins also adds his soprano sax to Jon Lucien's You're Sensational, weaving deftly around Ron's muscular vocal; the samba-ish rhythm threatening to explode, but never losing its delicious groove.
The quartet of Stagnaro, Bromberg, Shapiro and Cantos are featured on Ron's English lyric to Fatima Guedes' gorgeous ballad And Now? Boustead's sensitive vocal is beautifully enhanced by Renee Stahl's vocal accompaniment. The quartet also offers highly empathetic support to Ron's deeply moving interpretation of Billy Larkin's Every Moment of You, a jazzy waltz with an unusual chord structure that only enhances its loveliness.
Bill Withers' elegant Whatever Happens is a heart-wrenching duet with Windy Wagner, whose sweet voice offers an arresting contrast to Ron's plaintive plea, all fired to smoldering intensity by Mitchell Forman's wailing Hammond B3. The album closes on a most poignant note with
James Taylor's Secret O' Life, a prayerful remembrance of Ron's younger brother Dean, who passed away in 2011. Melancholy, but uplifting, it's offered with love and elegance in the warm embrace of Forman's string arrangement and piano.
A most fitting ending to an extremely personal expression of one man's artistry and vision.
For more information about this album and Ron Boustead, visit
www.ronboustead.com
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