Spent Saturday helping Jeff and Carolina move into their new house in Concord, NC.  Yes, Buster helped too.  After a day of lifting, relaxing with some football, beverages, and pizza.  Buster’s relaxing with our friend George who helped in the big day.

If you didn’t check out Angie Stone’s fantastic video for I Ain’t Hearin’ U on singersroom.com last week, it is now here at Soul Food for you to enjoy…

This is the lead cut from Angie’s  new album Unexpected, dropping in UK late Jan.

Happy Monday!

yall remember this? what comes up must come down….supposedly

It just occurred to me that I have a penchant of taking photos of people talking on cell phones in places where it seems a little incongruous (see Can You Hear Me Now).  The Cemetery is on Main Street in Concord, MA - and the two empty parking spaces just might be the most unusual things in the picture.

I love lazy drives.  Sundays on an old country road–music or the talk radio station on–so relaxing. If you’re like many Carolinians, you’re taking your kids to the park on a warm day. A great family outing with slides, swings, a basket of food and a pitcher of lemonade, all of the key ingredients to take things at slow pace.

The park will also assist you in making sure you’re able to keep things slow, particularly your car. Frank Liske Park in Concord, North Carolina, takes that extra step to help keep your speed in check by letting you know exactly how slowly they want you to drive.

Not twenty miles per hour, not fifteen miles per hour.

Nineteen.  Yep. Nineteen miles per hour.

Nineteen miles per hour must be the scientifically proven, just exactly perfect, road-tested-by-silver-haired-women-with big-hats speed limt safe enough for vehicular traffic, children at play, and insuring that Canadian Geese can safely cross, as well. This is a speed limit that’s sure to give speedometer watchers fits, making sure that the needle lines up perfectly at the 19mph space.

Because in Frank Liske Park, speed kills . . . even at twenty miles per hour.

I mean come on: what’s up with the speed limit, dude?

Great news! The first killer soul record of 2010 belongs to Angie Stone’s new album Unexpected…

R&B/soul luminary Angie Stone has never shied away from pushing her own limits and the limits of her music. With each new recording, with each next step in her career, she has consistently hit the world with something it didn’t see coming. Her new album, Unexpected, set for release on November 24th from Stax Records (a division of Concord Music Group), encompasses a diversity of styles and influences that Stone has distilled over the years – rap, R&B, soul, funk and more – and weaves them together in a narrative that addresses life’s ups and downs, but ultimately strikes a redemptive chord.

“I wanted this album to be something different,” says Stone, whose 2007 Stax debut, The Art of Love & War, was her first album to top Billboard’s R&B/hip-hop chart. “I didn’t want to make the kind of neo-soul record I had made in the past. That would have been repetitive.”

But in the midst of mapping this new direction, Stone encountered a shock that even she didn’t see coming. Mid-way through the recording process, her father – Stone’s spiritual anchor and creative mentor since her childhood in South Carolina – passed away very suddenly. “It was totally unexpected,” she says, “and that’s where I came up with the title of the album. I really didn’t think I could finish the project, because I was so grief stricken…I had to do a lot of the vocals a second time. I had to lean on my dad’s wisdom and energy, and try to be open to what he would have wanted me to do in order to finish the songs. I can say that his spirit was literally there in the studio with me, and I’m grateful for that.”

Out of this tragedy comes Unexpected, the next step forward for Stone, a stretch beyond whatever limits – real or perceived – she might have been facing when the project began. From the get-go, the quick and funky title track – with its backbeat inspired by Sly Stone’s 1971 hit, “Family Affair” – warns the listener to “Prepare yourself for just about anything.” Equally energetic is the album’s first single, “I Ain’t Hearin’ U”, a song that decries rumor and gossip. The track is co-written by vocalist and songwriter Juanita Wynn, Stone’s collaborative partner for several years.

“I Don’t Care” is a proclamation of self-acceptance and self-assurance, based on sound spiritual advice that Stone received early on: “My dad always used to tell me, ‘Don’t worry about what people say. They can’t change anything. Whatever God wants for you is most important.” “Tell Me” settles into a techno groove wherein the dual vocals by Stone and Wynn – artfully co-produced by Kerrim “Ikon” King and Fitzroy “Art Teacher” Reid – create a wall of sound that’s augmented by an edgy delivery from rapper Dose.

“Think Sometimes” is a poignant ballad inspired in large part by Stone’s late father. “It’s funny how people can slip away so fast, and suddenly they’re in your past,” she says. “You wonder about what you could have – or should have – done differently. It’ll make you think sometimes.”

Unexpected represents a turning point for Angie Stone – not just in her career, but in her life and her world view. And while the losses that triggered the transformation may be painful, the artist and her work are stronger because of them. “This album is something that no one would have anticipated coming from me. My father always encouraged me and everyone else he knew to reach out and make a leap of faith, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.”

Check the amazing video for lead cut “I Ain’t Hearin’ U”exclusively at Singersroom. com.

Link here:

http://www.singersroom.com/video/Angie-Stone/I-Aint-Hearin-You/1010

Unexpected is released in the UK Jan 2010 via Stax / Concord / Universal.

More info on Angie  on her official site:

http://www.angiestoneonline.net

No words…just eye candy

Your computer network is vital to your business. When problems happen, you need a computer repair company with a fast response time. In addition to traditional wired networks, our technicians are experts at installing, configuring, and securing wireless networks. Whatever your computing needs are, Geeks Mobile provides the solution.
concord-computer-repair

November 2009 Exercise – Michael Rosen, CEC, Executive Chef, The Speedway Club @ Lowe’s Motor Speedway, Concord, NC

Snake River Kobe Flat Iron Steak and Fresh Maine Lobster

Herb Fingerling Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus with Shitake Mushrooms

Finished with Shallot Demi Reduction

To participate in the next exercise, please send an e mail to: jeffrey@bauscherinc.com

See all your favorite chefs’ collections of past submissions at the Deep Plate page on Facebook.  Please become a “Fan”. 

http://deepplate.wordpress.com and “Deep Plate” on Facebook

Hot Deals on New Homes in Ashebrook, Concord NC

Find New Home builders in Ashebrook and other community in Concord NC.

Did you know that YOU CAN get an additional 1% CASH BACK on your NEW HOME?

… Learn the Secrets, and what the NEW HOME BUILDERS don’t tell you!

Search Concord Homes for Sale
Before you visit the new home builder, print your Cash Back Coupon.

Ashebrook Subdivision is a great place to live and is located in Cabarrus County, Concord NC.

Ashebrook Community Features:
Recreation Area
Playground

There are a lot of things to do in the Ashebrook, Concord NC area. Just a sample of places you may want to visit are: Himal Home Gallery ( 18.2 miles) and, Charlotte Museum of History ( 13.9 miles) and, Bost Grist Mill ( 3.3 miles) and, Fine Art Impressions LLC ( 19.2 miles) and, Kevin Starr Art Studio ( 16.8 miles) and, Daphne Dwyer Fine Art ( 18.6 miles) and, Earth Echoes ( 12.2 miles) and, Fire Museum & Education Center ( 18.0 miles) and, Studio 21 ( 19.1 miles) and, Culture Connection Art ( 18.9 miles) and, I hope you have time to explore the area.

Your CASH BACK Coupon can be used anywhere in North Carolina and South Carolina in addition to the Charlotte NC market but you must print your coupon BEFORE you visit the builder.

Start your search for Concord NC Homes for Sale
Print Your Cash Back Coupon Now!

* Cash back coupons are not builder incentives and are provided by the Real Estate Agent.
** Always verify school information prior to purchasing.

For anger management classes in North Carolina visit www.masteringanger.com or call 704-804-0841.

The Fans in the Stands

For most folks, racing fans and the word “classy” don’t really mix. However,  lumping all racing fans into the world of friends who reside in low places isn’t fair.  First of all, there is no one type of fan.  But it isn’t hard to decipher who falls in what category when you spend some time at the track.

Many fans are what I think of as the Old Timers. They’re easy to spot and you know they’ll be quick to tell you of the Cale Yarborough/Bobby Allison fight at Daytona in 1979 or Dale Earnhardt’s “Pass in the Grass” in 1987 (which, let’s face it, wasn’t really a pass, but an astonishing feat, all the same). Those are the guys with a million stories to tell that require little prodding. It makes for great listening but not for great people watching. For my money, that’s where a lot of the fun is, right in the stands watching people making complete spectacles of themselves.

I sat in back of a husband and wife for my first race; she was a Jimmie Johnson fan, he a Tony Stewart fan. You didn’t even need to look at the track to know how well Johnson was doing. All you needed to look at were her reactions, especially to hubby, as Johnson pulled ahead. She was more than ready, willing, and able to remind her better half who was in the lead and did so every chance she could. She would bounce in her seat and stand up, tugging her shirt in approval with every pass Johnson made. Since Stewart finished in back of Johnson, one can only imagine what the ride home must’ve been like for hubby.

That woman represents the fastest growing segment of NASCAR fans, the knowledgeable, vocal, sometimes rabid, female racing fan. I think her husband represented another equally growing segment of NASCAR fan–the man with a total inability to fire back.

Then there are the Haters. Someone out there hates Kasey Kahne. I mean really hates Kasey Kahne. I’m not sure if there was a personal wrong doing at some point. Maybe Kahne stepped on this guy’s dog. Maybe the guy just doesn’t like pretty boy drivers with baby blue eyes. Who knows? What I was certain about was the hatred from this fan towards Kasey Kahne. For about 15 solid laps, he never missed an opportunity to bring out the scowl, bite his lower lip in anger, and extend the Jersey Salute. How do I know that Kahne was the target of this fan’s disapproval? It’s not hard to figure when Kahne would be the only one passing by, the finger following the red number 9 the entire way. Here comes Kahne again, out comes the finger. Just like clockwork. Kyle Busch has a similar following. It appears about half the fans are Busch haters, from what I have observed in the stands.

With Kasey Kahne comes that other segment of female fan. This fan isn’t unlike the Jimmie Johnson fan earlier in this article. Take a walk past Kahne’s souvenir trailer and you would swear you walked into an arena with an 80’s hair metal band headlining. This particular female fan is very much aware of her appearance. She may be sitting all the way in the last rows of the track, but she’s dressed to kill. Maybe it’s Jeff Gordon’s TV-friendly appearance or Joey Logano’s boyish appeal, because Mark Martin sure isn’t attracting this particular fan.

During tire testing several weeks prior to the Coca Cola 600, one Kasey Kahne fan took it upon herself to break out a stopwatch and time his laps. Funnier was the visible frustration she showed as she failed to take a picture of his car in motion. She practically turned shoulder sagging into an exercise. Do not do anything to anger these fans. They may not know the difference between gas, brake, and clutch but what they do know is their driver is cuter than your driver. Those good looks supersede any argument for driving skill, or lack thereof. Handle this fan with extreme caution.

Then you have the fan who loves to be the center of attention. He’s not one to mince words–he is outspoken. Yes, you all know him as “That Guy.” Never one to keep his comments to himself or his friends, “That Guy” makes sure all of those in his section, as well as the adjacent sections, get to hear every drunken pearl of wisdom. Friends, I was fortunate enough to sit in back of “That Guy” at the last race I went to. “That Guy” was the first one to remind us all how much Tony Stewart loves the Whopper. His constant cries of “TONYYYYYY” served as our reminder as to whom he was pulling for. He didn’t fail to fill us in on how poorly Earnhardt Jr. has been doing this year, and we knew exactly where “That Guy” stood on every NASCAR related issue. And we all let him speak, because “That Guy” was going to provide us hours of entertainment, at least until he wore himself out.

It takes all types to fill a race track the size of the Lowes Motor Speedway (or any track for that matter), but it’s the daredevils in their speed machines we all come to see. If it’s drivers you want, in Part Three, it’s drivers you get.

Dogs left to die in Concord

More than 30 found abandoned on road; most recovered

The Track

When it comes to NASCAR, forget everything you’ve ever seen on television. Forget that you believe the drone of engines sounds as though its at least a thousand decibels. Forget that you believe those tracks are big, even if you’re watching on a 32-inch set. Forget that you’re sure how fast those cars are going, just by the trackside cameras with mics giving off that “thoomp, thoomp, thoomp” sound as they speed by at 180 miles per hour.

You think you know what it’s like going to a NASCAR race, just by turning on FOX with D.W. screaming “Boogity boogity boogity” every Sunday afternoon.

Tighten your belts all you like, hoss. You think you know–but you don’t.

I’ve lived about five miles from Lowes Motor Speedway for nearly three years now. I still have to reset my sense of scale every time I drive by it. It’s a behemoth, this track that looms so large over Concord, North Carolina. It was literally one of the first identifiable sights when I moved here, spotting the checkered upper deck from several miles away as I was waiting at a traffic light. Then it becomes something like a redneck Energizer Bunny as you’re driving by. From right around Turn Three on, driving on Highway 29 south, it just keeps going . . . and going. . . and going . . .

Three years, and I still haven’t completely gotten used to its size. Of course, being from the North, we always attempt to convey size by comparing something to a football field: “It’s like putting Giants Stadium side-by-side, and then some!”

It could be worse.We could be halving landfills and using that to put forth a sense of enormity.

The first time I was inside the track wasn’t even for a race, but for a tour. Lowes gives wonderful tours of the track, from the infield to pit road, to the Winner’s Circle–right up to Turn One itself–all done from the comfort of a tour van.

When I took the tour,  I got a real feel for how gigantic this race track is. Good Lord, is this thing huge! I was too busy being in awe to try to figure out stadium lengths and whether or not we should throw a piece of a ballpark in for good measure.

The woman who drove the van, our Tour Guide for the day, was very pleasant, very informative, and looked as though she were several years too old to be driving on a race track–even in a van. She was the type you might see on a downhome cooking show. She might even do something involving balls of yarn and a rocking chair.

We moved at such a leisurely, Sunday afternoon kind of pace, not unlike the old woman with the purple hair who always manages to pull out of the church lot just before you can zip by her. The only time our Tour Guide drove slower was when she stopped at the Winner’s Circle (and yes, I did envision myself standing atop my Sprint Cup winning vehicle, arms in the air, confetti blowing around, two models coming up on both sides, a Coke or a Gatorade in my hand). Waiting to get onto the track itself, I figured this was hopeless. Her years initially told me one thing: “I’m gonna get skunked having her hit the gas when she gets on this track.”

Then she blasted out of pit road and raced towards Turn One, almost immediately speeding in excess of 80 miles per hour and heading straight toward the wall.

My leisurely “la la la, knit one, purl two” Tour Guide turned into a Formula One speed demon in seconds flat, causing me to hold onto my seat for dear life, hoping that the insurance premiums were up to date, and that my estate would be distributed properly (meaning all of my Grateful Dead collectibles go to a worthy owner). To add a little salt in the wound, she stopped, pretty much at the middle of the banking around that very turn. Not only was I still getting over this zero to 80-plus mile an hour in a few seconds flat burst of speed, I was now afraid that one slight move and we’d  tip this van over.

If I could’ve gotten away with ordering all of the heavier people to the right of the van, I would’ve done so faster than you can say “barrel roll.” Sweet relief–when we started moving again.

I put any thoughts of riding as a passenger in a real Sprint car on hold.

Tours are a nice little diversion, but they’re no substitute for race day. When that gigantic track is filled with 100,000 turkey-leg-eating NASCAR fans, it becomes the fourth largest city in North Carolina.

When those fans take the seats, that’s when the fun really begins.

Tomorrow Brian explores Part Two: The Fans

November 2009 Exercise – Bradley Labarre CEC, Executive Chef, Cabarrus Country Club, Concord, NC

Mini egg-rolls filled with duck confit, dried cranberries, currants and pistachios seasoned with siracha, mirin and ponzu; served with a spicy fresh kimchi and crispy wonton strips for texture contrast; the plate is garnished with siracha and ponzu

Local venison three ways: Venison chop with peach apple chutney, venison roast with red onion jam and venison sausage with venison brown sauce

To participate in the next exercise, please send an e mail to: jeffrey@bauscherinc.com

See all your favorite chefs’ collections of past submissions at Deep Plate page on Facebook.  Please become a “Fan”. 

http://deepplate.wordpress.com and “Deep Plate” on Facebook

Anlässlich des Besuchs unseres guten Freundes Gerrit, haben wir gestern auch noch eine kleine Tour in die Umgebung gemacht. Die historischen Städtchen Lexington, Lincoln und Concord standen besonders auf dem Programm. Hier steht die Wiege der amerikanischen Nation und Demokratie. Und dank des guten Wetters gab es auch wieder ein paar schöne Bilder.

Herbstliche Szene in Concord

Rathaus in Lincoln

Eine der zahlreichen Kirchen in Concord, in typischem Neuengland-Stil

Blumenarrangement in Concord

Blick in einen "beerigen" Himmel in Concord

There is always something Nia going on. Often times visting instructors will host a workshop or two. When they are in an area doing a workshop they often tack on a class or two so that even if you are not going to partake in the workshop you still can do Nia with them. It is a great way to other teachers from all over. This weekend there is a workshop that I am able to attend but I was able to go to the Nia class that was held the night before the workshop.

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It was an hour and a half class. Due to the huge amount of commute traffic from San Jose to Concord we missed the first 20 minutes, but we were able to jump right in and get a great workout in the time we had.

The visiting instructor was Winalee Zeeb. She has been doing Nia since 1991. She is a first degree Nia Black Belt, a Nia White Belt Trainer, and she has her own studio in Michigan called Heartdance.

The event is being held at The Big C Athletic Club. The class I went to was also at that location.  I had a great time moving on carpeted thick padded floor. We moved fast and slow, and experienced fire and soul. It was a great workout. Always amazing me because it never feels like exercise. I am always amazed when the class ends. It was the first time I had the pleasure of meeting Winalee. She said we did a bit of Aya and a bit of Velvet. I am not sure what other routines were in there, but it was a great time.

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I often post events on my site so if you are interested in attending Nia workshops and events in my area check my site. 

I was still trying to get in the swing of things when I decided to snap a few photos.  I was planning on taking more, but since we had missed a few minutes already I didn’t want to take time standing around taking the pictures, but I snapped it and a couple more just to give you an idea.

Day 11

Yesterday sailed by, easy breezy. Wind in my sails like Captain Jack Sparrow.

Today…not so easy & nothing breezy about it.  I am craving  &%^$#  EVERYTHING! Here’s a partial list:

• Grilled ham & cheese sandwich from Olympic Diner in SF. The waitress would get pissed when I asked if they could throw a fried egg on it, I’d say “pretty please” and she’d bring it out w/ a smile and EXTRA home fries!
• ANY flavor of piping hot ooey gooey mozzarella topped perfection from Rocco’s Pizzeria in Walnut Creek. My creation usually was pancetta, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, and feta…but sometimes I’d go for traditional red sauce w/ ground beef, garlic, and green peppers.
• A heaping plate of CARNITAS from my favorite authentic Mexican restaurant, Las Montanas in Concord.  Somehow their food isn’t “wet” like most mex places.  It floods your mouth with flavor, but as an example the rice is fluffy and dry and perfect.  The staff is the best I’ve ever encountered.  The drinks always sucked so i stuck with ice cold LAGUNITAS IPA from the tap.
• My own cooking, esp slow cooked homemade spicy tomato sauce w/ pasta…
• A perfect loaf of ciabatta from the BROOKLYN BREAD COMPANY in Carroll Gardens and salted butter!
• The #3 I think it was at the Thai restaurant my boss used to take me to on 23rd street in Chelsea when I worked in Manhattan.  Even when I asked for “not so spicy” I’d cry through every meal and savor every morsel.  I REALLY MISS NYC on many levels.
• Sweet & Tangy pulled pork BBQ  or Tri-Tip sandwich from Firestone Grille in my original hometown of San Luis Obispo CA. Their fries are the bomb, the patio is the place to be seen, and all kinds of micro brewskies. While in SLO why not hit up the Thurs night Farmer’s Market and stand in the ridiculous long line for McKlintocks beef ribs, camp beans, garlic bread & real lemonade… And one more spot in SLO you can’t skip is High Street Deli on, yup, High Street.  San Luis Sourdough piled with whatever you want in between…  
• Chilaquiles w/ chorizo & sour cream at the King’s Highway, the cool new diner at the chic new Ace Hotel in Palm Springs where a friend recently saw Drew Barrymore and company eating.  Wash it down with their house ale that’s only $3 a pint in an otherwise pricey enviro. Go on a Wed night & bring your swimsuit, grab a Tanqueray and Lime at the bar & go join the DJ’d pool party.
• Chili Fries with a mountain of melted cheddar! But the chili has got to be SPICY like Cool Cats in SLO!

Ok, sorry to put you through that if you came to this blog looking for encouragement with your raw endeavors.  But, this is part of it, right?  I’m trying to keep it real and not sugarcoat my experience going raw.

I’m NOT going to eat anything like that today!  And no cold beer! Raw food eating is worth it. I feel good and already look a lot better.  In about a week I’ll post the first before & after pics of my journey into better health. Each Tuesday I will also weigh myself.  My first week I lost 7lbs. So I’m curious to see what week two’s weight loss is.

I feel kinda bad (not really) for posting all those cooked food pics on a raw food blog–don’t judge. So to try and offset the greasy pics above I want to post the best looking raw food pic I have seen this week. They are “Red Pepper Poppers” and that is EGGPLANT BACON! I can’t wait to make them!  The recipe is at
http://www.rawmazing.com/recipes/red-pepper-poppers/

What I ate so far today:

• Watermelon Juice (I just found out it’s an APHRODISIAC! I don’t think chili fries make you a better lover..)
• Pear
• Blueberry Banana Smoothie w/ honey & green powder
• Salad: Leftover homemade pesto, spinach, olives, rawmesan
• Apple
• Vanilla-maca-date-banana-shake
  

***PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ABOUT WHAT YOU CRAVE AND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR DIET IS RAW! THANKS! I’m really curious to here from others about this.

Concord Console Table with Shelf Review

Feature

• Some assembly may be required. Please see product details.

Overview
Some console tables need to hide behind a couch, but not this Concord table. It’s got style and grace and can stand alone in a hallway or can serve as a buffet in the dining room. SmartBargains Style #3058443741

Nov 04, 2009 17:03:04

November 7, 2009; 8:00 am – 3:30 pm

Rundlett Middle School; South St; Concord, NH

The 39th annual meeting of the NHACC features a combination of concurrent sessions and fieldtrips.

to view descriptions of these, please click on the link below:

NHACC invite

Price per person (includes lunch):

NHACC members: $40 ($45 after October 30)
Others: $50 ($60 after October 30)
Walk ins: $60

Contact Information:

NH Association of Conservation Commissions
54 Portsmouth Street
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 224-7867
www.nhacc.org, info@nhacc.org

CONCORD, NH – An Italian restaurant in New Hampshire has created the world’s largest meatball!

Matthew Mitnitsky, owner of Nonni’s Italian Eatery, decided he wanted to challenge the world record for the biggest meatball ever made.

The record as of the summer was a group in Mexico who made a 109 pound meatball. But at the end of September, that record was broken on the Jimmy Kimmel show when a 198.6 pound meatball was made.

Mitnitsky said he decided to break the record because he wanted “to bring the meatball back to the East Coast because that’s where it originated.”

On Sunday, in front of a crowd of fans and officials, Mitnitsky and his crew presented a 222.5 pound meatball! A Guinness Book of World Records official confirmed the record, and presented them with a plaque.

Check out the video below:

The Terence Blanchard Group: Choices (Concord 7231736)
One thing you never get from Terence Blanchard is the same old same old. There are sometimes fairly straight jazz dates but some of my most treasured discs are The Heart Speaks, the trumpeter’s collaboration with Brazilian composer Ivan Lins and his recent requiem for Hurricane Katrina, A Tale of God’s Will.

For Choices he assembles his current band of Fabian Almazan on piano, Derrick Hodge on bass and Kendrick Scott on drums, to which he adds Walter Smith III on saxophone. Guests musicians are the singer Bilal and the guitarist Lionel Loueke. And then there is Dr Cornel West, writer, speaker, educator and activist.

West talks quite a bit through the album. He has a gritty, resonant voice that reminds me in timbre of a tenor saxophone, he has a lot of wise things to say and he says them in a compelling way. But after the first half dozen plays he does become a bit like a really good man at a cocktail party whose story you have now heard a few times, and beyond whom there is the rest of the party going on. You’d quite like to introduce him to someone who has just arrived at the party and doesn’t yet know his views, then quietly slip away to refresh your drink and listen to the band.

And I suppose you can do just that by programming the CD or importing selected tracks.

Because the music is just glorious and, as always with Blanchard, it is exquisitely played and exquisitely recorded. Surely the loveliest and most human trumpet sound on the planet at present? Lovely tunes and lovely arrangements, and a great range of moods with a style that is both timeless and contemporary.

Try Journey, Bilal singing over a lithe Brazilian samba, or Hacia del Aire, with its oh-so-dignified  trumpet and bass intro, it’s fulsome piano development and eventual cinematic theme which leads into a trumpet/saxophone double solo of ever heightening tension and emotion. Those are just for starters – there is plenty more, from the more straight-ahead quintet of Him Or Me to the dreamy Touched By An Angel.

And, where the spoken word is blended in with the music more, like on the title track and on the most extended track, Winding Roads, that works just fine, too. Ultimately West has the answer himself, when he says Beethoven called music “deeper than philosophy” to which one might add: “yep, and deeper than talk, too.”