ALL ABOUT
JAZZ - A Review
by Doug Payne
(March 98)
ELECTROPICA
Richard Bone
Electropica is Rhode
Islander Richard Bone's avant-ambient tribute
to the significant influence of Bossa Nova.
Bone is a one-man keyboard arsenal that
launches his lush cocktails from the
inspiration of Creed Taylor's Verve and CTI
recordings of Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luis
Bonfa, Joao Gilberto and Walter Wanderley.
While the result doesn't possess the rich
complexities of samba or much of the
improvisation of jazz (with the possible
exception of "Waveland"), Bone constructs
bright and witty percussion motifs that
elevate the music several quality notches
above your typical New Age wallpaper. Imagine
what Martin Denny would have done with
synthesizers and you have an idea of what to
expect. Then scan titles like "Electropica"
(the disc's best track), "Afrouxe" and
"Canguru" for evidence of the wit Bone brings
to his inspiration. And while only rarely does
Bone get referential - "Ipanema 2000" quotes
"The Girl From Ipanema" and "Pao, Baby!"
offers a sample of Walter Wanderley's "Summer
Samba" - his music offers a considerable
understanding of the mysterious twilight
warmth of the most appealing samba.
Electropica, Bone's eighth QuirkWorks disc, is
much deeper than Deep Forest and filled with
the warm, effervescent feel of a classic samba
production. For more details, contact
QuirkWorks at 401-232-0210 or visit the
BONEpage.