Artist: Jackson Conti
Title: Sujinho
Year: 2008
Label: Kindred Spirits
Format: Vinyl LP (Original)
Flwrpt Rating of this Record: 5.0/5.0
Review
Otis “Madlib” Jackson and Ivan “Mamao” Conti team up to release one of the best Brazilian jazz records of the 21st century. Madlib being a huge fan of Brazilian jazz, found a connection with the music of jazz greats, Azymuth. If you’re not familiar with Azymuth, I urge you to do your homework, it’s some of the best music you will EVER experience. So anyway, Madlib was determined to work with those who influence him…in this case, he was able to link up with Ivan Conti, who is the drummer and percussionist for Azymuth (and he’s amazing at his craft). Madlib is a self-taught musician, but you’d never know seeing as though he continues to produce hot music and pushes the boundaries of sound on the regular.
What makes this album so special is the texture of it all, Jackson and Conti converse through sound…a lot of this is simply FEELING, they’re feeding off of one another. A lot of this was captured in one take, which definitely keeps it edgy, raw, and innovative. Another thing that makes this whole project so special is the generation gap that becomes bridged by nothing less than GREAT music…GREAT music, i’ll say that one more time GREAT music.
With this album you’ll hear some crisp percussion and solid bass lines, it’s packed with monster grooves. The synth work is amazing as well. Actually, this project is so good, the details would take me forever to explain, with that said, just give it a listen…
Check out the sound!
Nao Tem Nada Nao
Sunset At Sujinho
Sao Paolo Nights
Casa Forte
Brazilian Sugar
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The Inside Look At Making the Album!
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Design
This is what I love to see, creativity on an album cover, especially a recent album cover. I’m digging the juxtaposition of elements here. Notice the completely contrasted type at the top, accompanied by these floating 3D geometric shapes that float horizontally across the cover, all TOTALLY different, but working quite nice together. Then below there are three flower collages, made up of statues, found objects, and a ton of other abstract artifacts. This cover was designed specifically for the vinyl release, and the packaging of it was pretty special and very well designed. I was impressed. If you can go out and find this record, pick it up, listen to it, read the story behind it, observe the art…the whole thing is an experience.
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Additional info on Jackson Conti
8 Comments
Loving this album! Thnx to Kindred Spirits for putting this one out there. Good post..
funny, there’s an NY-based DJ that i know, named Sujinho aka Suji. He, along with DJ Cassiano, formed the DJ duo called Nossa, and pretty much introduced Brazilian Baile Funk music to NYC a few years ago. If you’ve ever seen pictures of M.I.A rockin that “I ‘heart’ Baile Funk” t-shirt, it was designed by the Nossa duo to go along with their series of mix cd’s. I always wondered what that name Sujinho meant…
So what exactly is madlib’s contribution to the album? I hear a bit of ynq in some of the synths, but to me it sounds like all Mr Conti’s work to me.My first thought was “the musicianship so sounds so solid and matured, how is this madlib?” If you have any insight into this let me know, cause madlib may have just stepped it up.
Madlib produced it, Conti played the live music…
I definitely like this album, Jackson Conti did his thing, sounds like Madlib did some playing too, that’s the album’s downfall, Madlib isn’t the best instrumentalist. Madlib is a talented producer, and has a knack for getting an amazing sound out of synths and samplers, but playing instruments just isn’t his talent. He can get by on some of his hip-hop stuff but can’t hang with Conti on this one. Still one of his best albums but could have been better if Madlib did less actual playing, and stuck to producing and sound designing.
Meant to say Ivan Conti did his thing.
nice review..thanks..
“Notice the completely contrasted type at the top, accompanied by these floating 3D geometric shapes that float horizontally across the cover, all TOTALLY different, but working quite nice together.”
Reminiscent of an old Azymuth album cover. As a matter of fact, it’s from their original Light As A Feather album. I didn’t even peep that before you pointed it out. That and the collage flowers. Aside from the dope collabo, the cover alone made me want to check it out, which leads to the next point:
“He [Madlib] can get by on some of his hip-hop stuff but can’t hang with Conti on this one. Still one of his best albums but could have been better if Madlib did less actual playing, and stuck to producing and sound designing.”
I concur.