Mindi Abair - In Hi-Fi Stereo is Mindi's musical back to the future with 10 original tracks influenced by the golden age of Rhythm and Blues, Soul, and Funk, the 1960's and 1970's.

Mindi Abair - In Hi-Fi Stereo                    

In Hi-Fi Stereo: Any Way you Wanna; All Star; L'Esprit Nouveau; Get Right; Be Beautiful; Down for the Count; Girls' Night Out; Let The Whole World Know (Sing Your Song); It's a Man's Man's Man's World; Take Me Home; The Alley               

Personnel: Mindi Abair: Alto Saxophone, Horn Arrangement, Vocals; James E. Gadson: Drums; Reggie McBride: Bass, Upright Bass; Randy Jacobs: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar; Stephen "Stevo" Theard: Arrangements, Keyboards, Programming; Rex Rideout: Wurlitzer; Keyboards, Piano, Programming; Cassandra O'Neal: B3 Organ; Lee Thornberg: Trumpet, Trombone; David Woodford: Tenor and Baritone Saxophone; Bud Harner: Ride Cymbal; Ryan Collins: Lead and Background Vocals; David Ryan Harris: Guitar, Vocals; Michael White: Drums; Smitty Smith: Bass; DeWayne Swan: B3 Organ; Jamey Tate: Drums; Jay Gore: Electric Guitar; Jessi Collins: Backing Vocals; Lalah Hathaway: Lead and Backing Vocals, Vocal Arrangement; Phil Parlapiano: Rhodes, Arp Keyboard, Organ; Lance Abair: B3 Organ; Rodney Lee: B3 Organ                      

Mindi Abair - In Hi-Fi Stereo was produced by Rex Rideout and Mindi Abair and released on the Heads Up International label. A successful saxophonist, performer, and songwriter for the past 10 years, Mindi thought it was time to take a look back at the 60's and 70's, a period in music that has been called the golden age of Rhythm and Blues, Funk, and Soul. So, she embarked on a musical journey to capture the sound of musicians jamming together in one room as they did in the 60's and 70's. In addition, keeping with that period, Mindi borrowed the release's title from that distinct moniker found on album jackets, "Hi-Fi Stereo," which denoted the best format for sound available.

Drawing from her childhood musical influences, she wrote or co-wrote 9 of the 11 tracks for the release that she wanted to be fun while paying respect to the era, and introducing this format of music to a completely new audience, and she succeeded.

The release opens with Any Way You Wanna a funky groove that is about capturing the audience's attention and getting them involved. Her sultry sax is layered on top of a steady bass line typical for that period allowing for instruments like the horn section to do their dirty work. The track All Star opens the door to some vibrant Rhythm and Blues and Soul in an arrangement that frames and presents the horn section against a pulsating bass line driven by the drums. L'Esprit Nouveau was written with the legendary Alain Toussaint's distinct New Orleans sound in mind and she captured the swing, swagger, and step reminiscent of the style throughout the arrangement, and especially significant is the her use of the upright bass and the ragtime piano to emphasis the musical components.

She brings back the unique vocal sound of that period on the track Get Right featuring Ryan Collins on vocals. This is a peppy song where the vocals are in tune with an animated bass beat and a funky drum beat. The track Be Beautiful, an original track written by David Ryan Harris, is a deep soulful ballad featuring Mindi on vocals who loved the positive message of the lyrics that she just had to add it to the release; Mindi calls the song "a great anthem for women."

The only cover on the release is that of the legendary James Brown and his It's a Man's Man's Man's World, and Mindi's arrangement is stirring and funky with a driving saxophone the complements the sizzling vocals of Lalah Hathaway.

Other songs on the release include Down for the Count, a true Funk and R&B sound that will have you digging out your leisure suit for a night on the town; Girls' Night Out, a sassy sound that will have the women filling the dance floor and taking control; Let The Whole World Know (Sing Your Song), a light ballad with Mindi on lead vocals; Take Me Home, a real funk slap bass beat that drives to the inner dance mojo in everyone. The release closes with the track The Alley, which was a collaboration of Mindi's touring band that was created through endless jamming and meshing of musical influences and styles.          

Websites where you can procure Mindi Abair - In Hi-Fi Stereo are iTunes, Amazon, and CD Universe.    

© June 2010. Luxury Experience. www.LuxuryExperience.com. All rights reserved.