New Winwood

BFrank · June-29th-2003, 10:54 PM

Steve Winwood - "About Time"

Hey, this thing is actually good. I had given up on this guy a long time ago. He seemed destined to the pop 'remainder' bins for the rest of his career.

"About Time" is self-produced with only an organ trio at the core of the lineup (Karl Denson shows up on a few tunes). He sticks to B-3 exclusively and it's got grooves that don't quit.

The following review made me pick it up. It's pretty "on the mark":

STEVE WINWOOD
About Time

Playing Hammond B-3 organ, backed only by guitar and drums, Steve Winwood returns to the kind of loose-limbed jams of Traffic's "The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys" in what is easily his most satisfying album since his 1986 pop- rock high point, "Back in the High Life."

With guitarist Jose Neto, best known for his work with Brazilian jazz musicians Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, and former Santana percussionist Walfredo Reyes Jr., Winwood lets the midtempo grooves carry the day, flooding the sound with Jimmy Smith-style organ and making room for the marvelous Neto to take long, rewarding excursions.

On this outing, released on his own label, Winwood has found his center, a smooth assimilation that swings effortlessly between rock, jazz and world music. Karl Denson throws a little saxophone and flute on a couple of tracks and additional percussionists enliven half the cuts, but the sound is light and fluid, Winwood clearly invigorated by the musical surroundings.

With five years between releases, Winwood obviously watched with some interest the rise of a new generation of jam bands and felt the kinship with his work in Traffic.

"About Time" is as comfortable as an old shoe and twice as groovy, but it also feels as fresh and lively as the best work of his youth, a major triumph for one of rock's less celebrated elder statesmen. -- Joel Selvin .

Pete C · June-30th-2003, 07:08 AM

Sounds interesting. Maybe I'll catch part of his set at the North Sea Festival (I saw him there in '98) and give a report.

Dr Dave · June-30th-2003, 08:13 AM

I heard the single, "Different Light." It's pleasant enough, and when the horn comes in it sounds briefly like an outtake from John Barleycorn.

but damn he writes sappy lyrics:

"I was escaping my reality
I had overlooked a part of me
I had to change my philosophy..." gag, gag, gag....

BFrank · July-1st-2003, 02:23 AM

Well there's nothing wrong with "John Barleycorn", but while there are hints of it here, it's certainly more contemporary sounding than that.

As for the words........I never listen to them anyway.

Chris D · July-1st-2003, 10:42 AM

Hey, whaddya know! Welcome back, Stevie.

GoodSpeak · July-1st-2003, 11:18 PM

I'd comment on Steve Winwood...but I've probably never seen him either.

lazarus · July-2nd-2003, 01:02 AM

Winwood is one of my alltime favorite vocalists. Unfortunely I have not heard anything that I really like by him for many years but I´m gonna check out this new cd.

I still play the Traffic and Blind Faith albums at a regular basis.

BFrank · July-2nd-2003, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoodSpeak
I'd comment on Steve Winwood...but I've probably never seen him either.

Look familiar, buddy?

Ron Thorne · July-2nd-2003, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GoodSpeak
I'd comment on Steve Winwood...but I've probably never seen him either.

You're kidding, right? I'm not sure of what you meant by the comment "I've probably never seen him either". Have you heard him? Surely you heard him in Blind Faith and/or Traffic, right? I can only provide a visual cue, so ...

Sand · July-2nd-2003, 05:40 AM

Ron and the rest of you are so young and innocent. I had been into Spencer Davis Group for years, when "Mr. Fantasy" arrived. It may have inspired me, as I soon was busy elsewhere, forgetting about Traffic.

I returned to Winwood in 1981 and have fond memories of

lazarus · July-2nd-2003, 07:04 AM

Hey Norwegian Light!
I listened to and liked "Gimme Some Lovin", "I´m A Man" and some other hits by Spencer Davis Group when I was young but I think that Steve Winwood found his own personel voice and style as a composer and artist with Traffic and Blind Faith.
I have very little interest in Spencer Davis Group today but I still likes to listen to Traffic and Blind Faith.

Maybe I shall check out his album from 81 that you like.

Sand wrote

Quote:

It may have inspired me, as I soon was busy elsewhere, forgetting about Traffic.

Well I guess you were too busy listening to Jan Høiland and Elisabeth Granneman instead!

Fleksnes går i repris på svensk TV just nu. Han är faktiskt lite rolig ibland. För att vara norsk alltså!

July-2nd-2003, 08:11 AM

How's this for a shocker: I've never heard Traffic or Blind Faith or any of the other noodle-rock groups that get regularly name-dropped around here.

My only recollection of Steve Winwood is that pop-song "Roll With It" that used to get so much radio play when I was a little-itty-bitty boy. I rather liked it back then.

Sand · July-2nd-2003, 08:17 AM

No, Lazarus, it was rather Jan Garbarek ("Vigdis" was out in 1967), George Russell, and Gary Burton with Larry Coryell, and others. I said nothing negative about Traffic. They were an inspiration to listen to new music.
Been digging sympathetic strings since childhood and Traffic even had an sample of that. Jan Johansson died in 1968 (, while you were digging jazz stars like Høiland, Grannemann and Wesenlund.)

It's incredible that I have to listen to one of these wannabe Germans passing justment on the listening habits of a 12-year old out of a nation of deep, orignal and individual artists. After all, the burden of the excellent , tasteless, canned food you've provided the world with is overwhelming. :-)

Pete C · July-2nd-2003, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sand
It's incredible that I have to listen to one of these wannabe Germans passing justment on the listening habits of a 12-year old out of a nation of deep, orignal and individual artists. After all, the burden of the excellent , tasteless, canned food you've provided the world with is overwhelming. :-)

I think you're about to turn Scandinavia into a troubled hotspot...

lazarus · July-2nd-2003, 10:12 AM

Quote:

It's incredible that I have to listen to one of these wannabe Germans passing justment on the listening habits of a 12-year old out of a nation of deep, orignal and individual artists. After all, the burden of the excellent , tasteless, canned food you've provided the world with is overwhelming. :-)

I was only trying to be funny but I guess I failed completely.
Sorry if you feeled offended.

Quote:

Been digging sympathetic strings since childhood and Traffic even had an sample of that. Jan Johansson died in 1968 (, while you were digging jazz stars like Høiland, Grannemann and Wesenlund.)

Jan Johansson was the only jazzartist I owned an album with in the 60´s (Jazz På Svenska). I began listening to jazz when I was 17 years old in 1970.
In 1968 my big favorites were Cream, Hendrix and Who. Very little swedish (or norwegian) music.

Chris D · July-2nd-2003, 10:23 AM

Alex,
There's actually a lot for you to discover, especially on the second, self-titled Traffic album, John Barleycorn and Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys. They were one of the few rock bands to use counterpoint effectively, and they didn't do it in the name of noodling. But I'm a old fart, so what do I know.

Sand · July-2nd-2003, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lazarus
I was only trying to be funny but I guess I failed completely.
Sorry if you feeled offended.

Ditto!

But remember that we're still an ally of the U.S. of A.
You'd better be careful :-)

BFrank · July-2nd-2003, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris D
Alex,
There's actually a lot for you to discover, especially on the second, self-titled Traffic album, John Barleycorn and Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys. They were one of the few rock bands to use counterpoint effectively, and they didn't do it in the name of noodling. But I'm a old fart, so what do I know.

Right. And Chris Wood who was not technically a very good sax/flute player, knew how to use his skills to fit very well into the sound of the band. Definitely had some influence on my interest in jazz.

GoodSpeak · July-2nd-2003, 07:30 PM

BFrank/Ron,

I was just doing a spoof on my comment on the SF advice thread.

[You see, RainyDay seems to have taken it upon herself to find error or attempt to debunk my every word of late....call it a little 'get back' if you will. ;-) ]

Of course I've heard [and seen in concert] Steve Winwood.

BFrank · July-3rd-2003, 01:38 AM

The Goodie Spoof-ster strikes AGAIN!

Sand · July-3rd-2003, 06:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pete C
I think you're about to turn Scandinavia into a troubled hotspot...

When the war comes, they'll say it's all about Trafficshiites and Stevesunnies, The US will leave their old ally behind, and join up with the eastern tribe.

But: Intelligence failed - only cod oil left.

Sand · July-3rd-2003, 06:55 AM

BFrank · July-14th-2003, 03:01 AM

It's still groovin' in my CD player!

"Cigano" reminds me a lot of the Meters' "Cissy Strut".