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Jeff Weinmann: Alma Matters
ByThe aforementioned themes help to tie all of this material together in one intriguing package, but a lack of stylistic unity clearly highlights the way all of these musicians were brought up. If you like your albums to walk a straight path from top to bottom, this one isn't for you. Group configurations are drastically different from one number to the next, further adding to the melting pot nature of Alma Matters, but certain personalitiesmulti-instrumentalist Peter Apfelbaum and the ever-impressive Cressman family crew, most notablyserve as binding agents and common denominators.
The playlist marks Weinmann as a man with discriminating musical tastes who refuses to discriminate against any musical camp. His vision makes room for stirring R&B-informed music (George Jackson's "Get Involved"), hip neo-soul (Natalie Cressman's "You'll Never Follow"), churchy aspirations carried on a tropical breeze (Erik Jekabson's "Gospel Sermon"), Brazilian-laced dance floor poetics (Natalie Cressman's "The Unknown"), spiritual suggestions from one of our greatest singer-songwriters (Paul Simon's "Bridge Over Troubled Waters") and Jamaican-flavored groovers (Peter Apfelbaum's "Shadow Woman"). But it's important to note that while this is Weinmann's project, it's not his show. He doesn't even appear on half of the tracks, and when he does drop in, he's often working a background role. Weinmann is clearly selflesshe sees himself as more of a "facilitator" than a leader hereand he's perfectly content to put the music and concept first.
Some may classify this as a compilation albumno two tracks have the same cast and the music was recorded in spurts over a four year stretch, so you can't really blame thembut classification is ultimately irrelevant. The music, the message(s), and the spirit are what matters most on Alma Matters.
Track Listing
Intro; The Unknown; Shadow Woman; Use It All; Hold On; Get Involved; Nobody’s Fault But Mine; You’ll Never Follow; Gospel Sermon; Wade In The Water; Bridge Over Troubled Water.
Personnel
Jeff Weinmann: flute, vocals; Jeff Cressman: trombone, flugelhorn, cornet, bass, castanets; Natalie Cressman: trombone, vocals; Elena Pinderhughes: flute, vocals; Samora Pinderhughes: keyboards; Jonathan Stein: bass; Mark Whitfield Jr.: drums; Ivan Jackson: trumpet; Peter Apfelbaum: keyboards, vocals, tenor saxophone, piano, flute, drums, percussion; John Schott: guitar; Jill Ryan: vocals, alto saxophone; Will Bernard: guitar; Charlie Ferguson: drums; Sandy Cressman: vocals; Ben Heveroh: keyboards; David Belove: bass; Josh Jones: drums, congas, percussion; Paul Hanson: bassoon, clarinet; Robin Bonnel: cello; Rachel Durling: violin; Tony Lindsay: vocals; Erik Jekabson: flugelhorn; David Belove: bass; Terrance Kelly: vocals; Destani Wolf: vocals; Steven Bernstein: trumpet; Marcus Rojas: tuba; Mathias Kunzli: drums; Julianna Cressman: vocals.
Album information
Title: Alma Matters | Year Released: 2017 | Record Label: Self Produced