Cheap Shelter (Music) (Jacqui Naylor) Price

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Customer Reviews of Shelter

You want this CD!!
I love this album. The more you listen to it, the more you realize how wonderfully complex, sophisticated, and witty music is supposed to be...after seeing the beautiful and talented Jacqui Naylor and most excellent, unique pianist Art Khu (who has a major following both East/West coasts) I must admit the CD does not do them justice after seeing them live in NYC. Cheese Puff Daddy shows true humor and is very funky; Shelter is a song you don't mind getting stuck in your head; remakes are more intricate with added depth- especially with Naylor's sultry voice that I swear at times reminds me of Sarah Vaughn. I think a lot of work both emotionally and professionally is quite evident in this collection of hits. If you are tired of wasting your $$$ then get this CD, you will not be disappointed.

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The Exquisite Jacqui Naylor and her CD "Shelter"
Shelter is a work of art by a hugely talented lady. Prior to this CD, I'd been listening to Sarah Vaughan, Ella, and Billie Holiday for the past year (or more). By a fluke, I decided to listen to the local jazz station, and guess who's song came on? I was so impressed I bought the CD the next day and have been listening to it ever since. When something this good comes along, you have to share it with the world, so I hope to convey to everyone how beautiful this CD is and how solidly talented Jacqui is, as well as Art Khu (and her accompaniments are superb)! I listen to this CD constantly as it's perfectly moody with jazzy twists and turns that keep you wanting more. As others have said, this music has touched my life personally as the lyrics feel as though they were written about me, especially the song "If you know love." I feel truly blessed that I've been able to discover this CD Shelter. Jacqui Naylor and Art Khu, I love you!!

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Jacqui Naylor has a place among the stars
Though the track "Miss You" could make you think otherwise, and in spite of the repeated comparisons with the folk-jazz diva, I prefer Jacqui Naylor's work above that of Norah Jones. Having taken that out of my chest, and knowing I will probably get flamed by Norah's fans (although I didn't say I disliked Norah Jones' music), I stand by my statement and here's why.

This is a very mature album, which is not coincidential, considering she's recorded two albums before this one (check out her site www.jacquinaylor.com, for MP3s to allow you to sample her entire discography). For this recording, the songs fall into four somewhat distinct categories: the piano-based tracks, the guitar-based and cello-guitar-based tracks, the tropical-influenced tracks and the "standard" jazz songs.

As for the piano tracks, co-producer/songwriter Art Khu plays the piano in most of them, adding an intimate touch that magically blends with Jacqui's voice, yielding some of the most amazing works in the album, such as the case of the title track, the touching "I Remember You" and the ballads "All For You" and Joan Armatrading's "Love & Affection" (with the rhythmic counterpart of Jon Evans on bass and Jason Lewis on drums).

Matt Brubeck's cello work (Berkeley Symphony, Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan, Indigo Girls and others) pours a life and a special soul into a few tracks (perhaps too few, for my preferences), always going alongside an exquisite (and very Sting-like, it must be said, too) Nylon String guitar by Craig Steen, Steve Erquiaga and Brian Pardo. "Free My Love", "Climb Higher" (my favorite track) and the closing track are the best examples of this type of work.

In terms of the more "tropical" tracks, there's a little bit of everything, but mainly Brazillian influences can be felt outside the tracks mentioned so far. For starters, when I listen to "Miss You" (a Jagger-Richards song) I can't avoid thinking of the very groovy NY-Rican band, SiSe. But the real flava' of the album begins in the second half, when Bossa Nova-influenced "Winter", and bossa ballads "Take This Chance" (also with Matt Brubeck on cello) and "If You Know Love" show a whole new dimension of Jacqui's voice that would otherwise remain hidden from us.

Finally, for straight jazz lovers, there's "Tired" (though not without some Brazillian touches sprinkled by Emiliano Benevides) and "Cheese Puff Daddy". So, when someone tells me that Jacqui sounds a bit like "Norah Jones meets Beth Orton", though I can see the resemblance in a few places, I say "Nah!" Jacqui's voice stands out like none of the two, and she definitely also has a place among the stars. Time will confirm it, I am sure.