Reuben Correa - Our Beautiful Baby' - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Einojuhani Rautavaara - Fiddlers [COMPACT DISCS] date 09/22/1994

... Livingston Taylor's first studio album of new material in nine years finds it's footing. The song does set the tone of this disc, though, finding the younger Taylor in a particularly upbeat, love-the-world mood. The following tune, InchThere I'll Be,Inch unites Taylor siblings James and Kate for the first time on one of Livingston's best tunes. A lovely mid-tempo ballad with a lilting melody and a snappy electric guitar fill from Vince Gill, it is a capsule of everything Livingston does well when the parts fit. There is still no mistaking the similarity to older brother James, at least vocally, but these songs shade more to classic pop, gospel, and jazz. The extended wait between albums has paid off in the immaculate production devoted to each song. A crack band including pros such as drummer Steve Gadd, keyboardist Matt Rollings, saxist David Sanborn, and bass player Leland Sklar meticulously brings each tune to life, although the disc's slick production and pristine recording sometimes undermines the singer's rootsier influences. Andraé Crouch conducts a gospel choir on the spiritual InchStep by StepInch and the a cappela vocals of Take 6 help bring the religion on InchTell Jesus (To Come to My House).Inch LIV shifts into a jazz mood on InchTuesday's Lullaby,Inch helped enormously by vibe master Gary Burton. All told, it's a delightful outing, a little on the cutesy, some might say cheesy, side with tracks such as the playful InchBlame It on MeInch and the good-natured Lyle Lovett-styled jazz-folk InchBoss of Me.Inch But that's Livingston's personality and world view and he genuinely sounds like he's enjoying himself on this upbeat, generally smile-inducing collection. Bouncy, bubbly, sometimes whimsical, but never pretentious, the album finds an established yet often overlooked veteran comfortable with his life and his art.

Shaila Kerr is the daughter of great composer/songwriter Guilherme Kerr Neto. His work revolutionized the christian world in Brazil in the 70's. By introducing beautiful poetry and Bossa Nova and Samba style songs to the Christian world, with the use of modern instruments such as drums, guitar and etc... (not played in the churches before this era), Guilherme Kerr Neto brought a new way of worshipping God by inspiring songs and song styles. Hearing her dad sing and compose throughout her life, staying by his side during the countless hours of recording, Shaila Kerr developed and inherited especial talent. She has an amazing voice and incredible sensitivity to music and lyrics. By combining her Christian Background, the incredible poet's heart that her father instilled in her, and her own love for music and amazing lyrics, Shaila Kerr became an amazing composer/songwriter/singer herself. Her goal is to share that same love with as much people as she can, and in doing so, let others have a much better alternative to music than what is out there. - Igor Gomes (Shaila's Husband and proud Fan!!!)