State of Mind - 4699

Amazon.com Raul Midon’s debut State of Mind is the sort of CD that makes R&B tastemakers twitch with pleasure. These 13 tracks are so supple, round and rich it’s safe to say the blind, New Mexico-born, half-Argentinean R&B/jazz artist is a unique hybrid of Donny Hathaway and Stevie Wonder. There has been a lot of speculation as to whether his sightlessness has helped Midon arrive at his Wonder-esque soul and scary-real talent. Weigh in if you want, but don't expect to arrive at any satisfying conclusions. Midon, like Wonder, Hathaway, and Al Jarreau, is the rare artist so clearly delivered to this earth for the sole purpose of making beautiful music. Drawing from pop, reggae, jazz, Afro-Cuban, and flamenco wells, Midon twists together a wonderful genre grab-bag strong enough to rival Seal. Two highlights, on an album full of them, arrive on track seven "Expressions of Love," when Stevie Wonder steps in for a harmonica solo, and on "Keep on Hoping," where Midon duets with the talented folk/ blues artist Jason Mraz. -Tammy La Gorce Product Description Manhattan Records is proud to release 'State of Mind' the debut album by Raul Midon, a singer, guitarist and songwriter of dizzying talent and infectious spirit. The album's thirteen tracks were all written or co-written by Raul Midon, with legendary producer Arif Mardin and his son Joe helming the sessions. Jason Mraz, a major Midon booster who took Raul on tour last year, co-writes and sings on the duet 'Keep on Hoping', and one of Raul Midon's idols Stevie Wonder plays harmonica on 'Expressions of Love'. 2005 About the Artist It's rare that an artist arrives onto the pop music scene so fully loaded with the kind of hit-making potential that singer-composer-guitarist Raúl Midón possesses. The New Mexico-born, New York-based Midón makes his recording debut with State of Mind, produced by Arif Mardin and Joe Mardin for Manhattan Records. The 13-track collection of Midón originals is a remarkable mélange of soul, R&B, pop, folk, jazz and Latin. The CD places on display his earnest, lyrical songwriting; full-bodied vocals steeped in soul; a singular syncopated, flamenco- and jazz-infused acoustic guitar style; a unique vocal trumpet improvisation; and hopeful disposition. While you can hear traces of Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Jose Feliciano and, Richie Havens in his music, Midón is an extraordinary original whose passion is expressed in his indelible songs. "I like to celebrate the possible, the highest, the best of possibilities for human beings," says Midón, who has been blind since birth and is the son of an African American mother and an Argentinean father. "It's easy to be pessimistic given the state of the world. But I'm inspired by people like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi who had the ability to transform. Collectively we create an enormously powerful force that can change the world and overcome any obstacle." As for working with the Mardins, Midón says, "We're coming from the same place. Arif is really into melody and comes from a jazz background, but with a firm foot in pop. I love good melodies and lyrical hooks, but I'm also musically trying to play something interesting. Joe is versed in all aspects of the recording process, from the notes to the sounds. That is to say he knows what mic to use to get a particular kind of guitar sound. He has the vision, discipline and training to bring out the best in the studio and you know that when you are done you will have something that sounds superb." State of Mind is a revelation. The CD not only trains the spotlight on Midón's buoyant delivery, but also boasts a guest roster featuring Stevie Wonder (a guest harmonica performance on "Expressions of Love") and Jason Mraz (a vocal duet on their collaborative song, the reggae-inflected "Keep on Hoping"). In addition there are contributions from Latin jazz flutist Dave Valentin and percussionist Sammy Figueroa (on the Afro-Cuban sizzling "I Would Do Anything."), harmoni
ASIN: B0007YMUO8
VSKU: GGV.B0007YMUO8.LN
Condition: Like New
Author/Artist:Raul Midon
Binding: Audio CD