REVIEWS IN SWEDISH
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Norrköpings Tidningar
041011
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Intervju
Sveriges Radio P4
(Hårt redigerat, låg kvalté)
Norrköpings Tidningar 041117
Göteborgsposten 041123
3 Fyrar
ROMAN ANDRÈN
Ambessas Dream
(Blue Beat Productions)
Loungefunk.
Välproducerad soulfunk som ibland befinner sig i relaxavdelningen
men då och då fylls av jazziga partier med många
fina solistiska
insatser, som Roger Norlings tenorsaxsolo i Felaflight.
Sköna svarta röster frigör sig i dansbeatet, Gladys
del Pilars t.ex.,
och verbaliserar plattans afrikanska Lejonmytologi. Massor av
goda musiker tittar in i studion för att ge den ambitiöse
Andrén ett handtag.
Ulf Johanson
Tidningen HIFI nr 11 2004
ERGO
Roman Andrén
Ambessa’s Dream
(Blue Beat Productions)
3/5
Roman Andrén, Uppsalapianist och -DJ inom ett flertal
genrer, har tagit musiker från vitt skilda håll och mixat
ihop dem till ett internationellt potpurri kallat ”Ambessa’s
Dream”. Resultatet är svårkategoriserad musik som kanske
lättast beskrivs som en udda förening av jazz, funk, soul,
bossanova och paraplybegreppet ”world”. Traditionella afrikanska
instrument samsas med Fender rhodes i långa sessioner som gästas
av poetiskt bakgrundmumlande, medan blåssektionen sparkar igång
ett slipat samspel.
Bäst blir det när Gladys Del Pilar i ”Make it Happen”
sjunger som en discodrottning, en association som kommer naturligt då
den stiliga blåsslingan återfinns i Blacknussklassikern
”Last Night a DJ Saved my Life”, en cover på Indeeps
discodänga från 1983. Efterföljande ”Father”
svänger nästan lika mycket och ”Amber Lady” bjuder
på storslagen musik som frammanar behagliga bilder av solljus.
Med varje ackord känns våren lite mindre avlägsen.
”Ambessa’s Dream” är skickligt komponerad musik.
De utdragna instrumentala bitarna tenderar dock att bli alltför
seglivade och hade vunnit på att vara kortare och mer kärnfulla.
Bakgrundsmusik finns det redan gott om.
Med djembe och artister som Africa Vision tar Roman Andrén svensk
afrocentrism till en ny nivå. Potentialen att skapa intressant
musik finns onekligen där.
Nollarton nr 2 2005
"This cd has some very serious potential. For people
who are into groups such as Incognito, Enigma, Brand new heavies and Soulive,
Roman has added a worldly, international flavor to his production.
I like it"
John Marcus
The
Jazz Dimension
Smooth jazz and more
December 1st, 2004
Roman Andren – Ambessa’s Dream
3½ Stars out of 4
Roman Andren has worked on his new release for the last two years. I can honestly say that all the hard work has paid off. His new CD, Ambessa’s Dream is really a joy to listen to. It has an African world beat savor to it as well as enough Smooth Jazz to satisfy. The production and arrangements on this CD are much like the work of Quincy Jones and Incognito. The highlights are the tracks, “You Got Me Dreamin’” and “Make it Happen” which are marvelous to listen to. The tracks are soulful and captivating. If if you like the music in the line of Soul II Soul & Incognito, then you're in for a treat. Consider buying this CD.
Swissgroove
As "hot tip" for the SwissGroove Top 5 of January I selected
a track from Roman Andrén - Ambessa's Dream called "Amber
Lady". Unfortunately the short sound sample at CDBaby.com where the
CD is available doesn't show the best part of this song which clocks in
at over 11 minutes and reaches a tremendous climax. As stated at CDBaby.com
"With his heart filled with Deodato, Quincy Jones and Hugh Masakela,
the pianist Roman Andrén creates oldschool funk-soul with an african
touch. He knows his CTI-catalogue and his piano." Roman Andrén
brings back a groovy and organic ensemble sound which is rooted in the
70ies and 80ies still retaining some modern elements. Hailing from Sweden
he recorded this project with a large number of fellow musicians giving
the music a great live feel. Speaking of "Amber Lady" the song
changes gears after the introductory few minutes and turns into a groovy
dance track with hand claps, a great extended synth solo and an ecstatic
female voice towards the end of the song making this an absolute MONSTER
dance track with a house feel. Unmissable!
Peter Böhi
ROMAN ANDREN
AMBESSA'S DREAM
Blue Beat Productions
BBP 003
Distr.: Blue Beat Productions
Music is universal, which this CD from Sweden proves. With this album,
Roman Andrén, a DJ and pianist from Uppsala, released his debut.
Although the cover and the sound clearly refer to Afro, it is in fact
a mosaic of contemporary smooth jazz, '70's en '80's soul & funk,
and improvisation. Roman plays Fender Rhodes, acoustic and electrical
piano, synthesiser, xylophone, electric organ, cymbals, percussion, and
sings along in the background. On top of it he composed all the tracks,
arranged them, mixed and produced the CD. It is clear that Deodato, Quincy
Jones and Hugh Maskela inspired him. Roman started studying music, but
chosed to work as a musician and DJ. Ambessa, which is an African lion,
is a project on which he worked for 2 years. This lion's dream leads us
through a wonderful world, and a lot of musicians collaborated, even Africans.
Highlights are 'Nawana', the vocal songs 'You Got Me Dreamin''
and 'Make It Happen', and 'Amber Lady', which is more than
11 minutes long. This makes for a very special listening, very atmospheric.
And yes, 'Ambessa II' is already in the making!
Patrick Van de Wiele