In the World: From Natchez to New York

Track Listings

1. Okra

2. Rain Shower

3. Natchez Shopping Blues

4. Your Lips

5. Harlem Country Girl

6. Zora

7. Young Mama

8. Bubber (If Only)

9. Father Blues

10. Jungle Jay

11. Kiane

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Singer-trumpeter-guitarist Olu Dara has been knocking around New York City's jazz circles for almost 20 years. On "In the World" he embraces Caribbean rhythms, African highlife/socca riffs, and gut-bucket blues. Vaguely reminiscent of Taj Mahal's fanciful integration of world music and the blues, Dara consistently straddles urban and rural artistry. Sophisticated yet irresistibly down-home, this collection is festive, tuneful, and engaging. Songs like "Rain Shower" and "Natchez Shopping Blues" are clearly based in the American folk-blues idiom, while "Okra" and "Your Lips" are closer to an Afro-Cuban aesthetic. Dara's warm voice is limited but expressive, and his guitar playing fundamentally percussive. On the other hand, Dara's trumpet is unique and extremely lucid. This album comprises a fascinating tour of several musical cultures. --Mitch Myers

Living Blues
In the World ... covers a broad musical spectrum. The opening ... is a traditional street vendor's chant set to an Afro-Caribbean beat.... [On others] blues comes to the fore ... three tracks on which Dara plays electric guitar ... [managing] to sound at once sophisticated and archaic (and thus somewhat reminiscent of Taj Mahal).... Rapper Nas--Dara's son--takes the lead on "Jungle Jay" before the set concludes with [a] lullaby.

In the World: From Natchez to New York,Olu Dara,Atlantic / Wea,Blues Music,Jazz,Modern Acoustic Blues,Modern Creative,Modern Electric Blues,Pop

Jazz Music: