JAZZ-FUNK FUSION ON FIRE!
by Brent Karasek
URBAN PLAYGROUND is an excellent album by a fusion drummer, Isaiah Stewart, who composes and produces his own jazz-funk music. Once this CD starts, it NEVER let's up! Not for one second! It comes on strong and heavy . . . like a jazz-funk freight train!
This CD is all about really tight nasty funk grooves. But it also has really great sophisticated melodies, beautiful chords and complex arrangements. This Isaiah guy is a drummer, but don't count him out. Seriously strong song writing is found throughout the CD. This guy is like The Beatles of jazz-fusion and all the melodies on this CD are instantly recognizable and memorable.
It might take more than a quick listen to each of the 20-second song samples to really appreciate the music. But after listening to the entire CD several times, the material just gets better and better and better. It grows on you (not off you). Also, everyone in Isaiah's band is incredible. Their playing is air-tight, and Isaiah's drumming is full of wicked chops while still remaining very melodic and tasteful.
If you love funk, R&B, jazz or fusion, this CD is for you! I cannot recommend it enough!
