Gino Sitson has a soul brother in singer
Al Jarreau. The Cameroonian and the American seem to share a particular bond in their tastes, world views, and the ways they make music. For both, the voice is the thing, the ways it can be used, and how the body itself can be a musical instrument. And like his more famous counterpart,
Sitson is a master at what he does. Performing alone, as on the glowing "Complex City," or fronting a small jazz group, as he does for much of
Song 'Zin..., he's someone who loves and caresses every note. Whether you can understand his words or not, the meaning is always abundantly clear from his tone. But his voice isn't his only instrument. He's also more than adept at body percussion, and his African background means he's coming from a different place rhythmically and melodically on everything -- but also his education in ehtnomusicology has made him familiar with a range of global styles, many of which peek through here, from post-bop to Afro-jazz, to more traditional styles and ideas which have yet to be named. It's smooth, deliciously silky, and packed with a love of music few can muster. ~ Chris Nickson