Saltman/Knowles, "Homeland," Mp3 Review  With a driving, rhythmic groove, the Mark Saltman / William Knowles ensemble delivers a melody rich, tasty jazz treat with their song, “Homeland.” Saltman (double bass player and song composer of this tune), Knowles (piano), and Jimmy "Junebug" Jackson (drums) create a uniquely woven, tom-heavy musical fabric. This allows vocalist Lori Williams-Chisolm to showcase and double a complex melody with saxophonist Robert Landham. The song is catchy enough to keep you listening and innovative enough to offer pleasingly unexpected musical shifts. Further, “Homeland” is memorable. I’ve been humming the melody all week long.
Williams-Chisolm’s voice is smooth and silky as she cleverly maneuvers around the scales. There really aren’t any lyrics per se in “Homeland.” Rather, Williams-Chisolm subtly and effectively uses her voice as an instrument throughout the tune. Towards the end of the song, she begins to enjoyably let loose a bit, demonstrating even greater vocal talent and control. Though jazz is often an improvisational art form, Saltman/Knowles and company keep things relatively structured in this tune, except for the two main solos. I can appreciate their approach, as they don’t want to detract from the infectious melody. The instrumental solos in “Homeland” are great. The initial saxophone solo by Landham is phenomenal. Following his performance is a clever piano solo by Knowles. He shows some flare, but not too much to overshadow the groove. If you really want to hear Knowles tear up some piano, check out another of my favorites, “Bellport.” As for bass and drum solos in “Homeland,” those players appropriately refrain from taking the spotlight. They’re too busy laying down a solid rhythm for the tune. Though studio improvisation can create some magical moments, I can appreciate when bands keep things structured while recording in an audience-free, soundproof room. Sometimes, improvisation is best saved for live performances, where you can feed off the energy of the crowd. Mark Saltman and William Knowles are both instrument wielding, accomplished composers. With the help of their very talented band mates and some great recording engineers, they have put together a vast collection of jazz recordings, including their latest release, It’s About the Melody, via Blue Canoe Records. “Homeland” hasn’t been released on a disc yet. However, we highly recommend you check out this tune and dive further into what Saltman/Knowles and company have to offer. Artist Website: www.saltmanknowles.com Reviewed By: ListenersGeneration.com
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