Wax Poetic Nublu Sessions CD

Since their debut in 1997, Wax Poetic have been mentioned numerous times as the "hip-hop" or "downtempo electronica" band where superstar vocalist Norah Jones got her start. She returns for two cuts on their sophomore effort, and they do still have elements of hip-hop and electronica, but my have they grown. Leader/saxophonist/all-around-visionary Ilhan Ersahin has shaped a loose collection of sidemen and a revolving door full of guests into a smart, adaptable unit of players who act as a modern day version of Motown's Funk Brothers or Lee "Scratch" Perry's Upsetters. The band benefits from their breeding at Ersahin's Manhattan club Nublu, a club/performance space that has Brazilian parties one night and a broken beat DJ the next. Nublu Sessions comes off as a weeks' pass to the club with reggae, house, jazz, samba, and just about everything else that is cosmopolitan, mixing together with Ersahin and Wax Poetic's vision and spirit holding it all together. Norah Jones' high profile appearances are more humble than expected and should cushion the blow for jazz-heads if her next album is full of atmospheric pop. Gruff reggae man U-Roy sounds as effervescent as ever, and N'Dea Davenport's turn gives the album a sparkling disco detour. Saul Williams' kinetic narrative commands his track as expected, but his message serves to break up an otherwise enigmatic album. Slow electro-click and smooth house numbers show up towards the end, and they're just as captivating and moody as the organic tracks. The Hollywood soundtrack gloss throughout the album may put off the underground snobs, but Wax Poetic understand both the sleek and the deep, and are smart far beyond their merely clever name. One listen to the warm and smooth, refined yet exciting Nublu Sessions and you'll wonder how you ever slinked across the loft without it. ~ David Jeffries

Spawned out of the Nublu Club in NYC's East Village, Wax Poetic is a collective that has launched the careers of many musicians, most notably Norah Jones and Saul Williams. Musically, Wax Poetic conjures a world where Turkish, Brazilian, jazz, reggae and electronic rhythms blend in perfect harmony. 12 tracks with a slipcase. Ultra. 2003.

Recorded at Temple Of Soul, RPM, Loho, Looking Glass Studios, New York, New York; Dogulu Istanbul, Turkey. Includes liner notes by Bill Werde.

Producers: Charles Stella, Daniel Wyatt, Thor Madsen, Ilhan Ersahin, Jeff Blenkinsopp.

Wax Poetic: Marla Turner (vocals); Thor Madsen (guitar, programming); Ilhan Ersahin (saxophone, keyboards); Jesse Murphy (bass); Jochen Rueckert (drums).

Additional personnel: Norah Jones, N'Dea Davenport, U-Roy, Saul Williams (vocals).

Entertainment Weekly (12/5/03, p.98) - "...An airtight stunner whose swirl of styles ranges from trip-hop and acid jazz to spoken word..." - Rating: A
Q (4/04, p.122) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[W]ith mesmerising wafts of clicky atmospherics and Moroccan rhythms filling the gaps, it truly deserves all the attention Jones can bring to it."
Uncut (4/04, p.97) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[A]n impressively sophisticated postmodern Manhattan cocktail."
Mojo (Publisher) (3/04, p.104) - 3 stars out of 5 - "A glistening confection of dance-sheathed global sounds and styles..."