Even with Google’s far-reaching spiders searching the world wide web, you’d be hard pushed to find any words on the 2013 released album – Like This by Jonas Wall & The Wallytones, and that’s a real shame.
Produced and composed by Jonas Wall, Per Wasberg, and Magnum Coltrane Price, the 11 track album contains all the Urban/R&B, Jazz-Funk and Soul chords to make it well worthy of a mention on our soulful searching platform.
Swedish Saxophonist Jonas Wall reforms the core of the established Protectors of the Funk and christens them The Wallytones. The band consists of Per Wasberg, Magnum Coltrane Price, Robert Mehmet Sinan Ikiz and Petter Bergander.
Reminiscent of the gentle open of George Benson’s ‘Breezing’, the beautiful string opening on Track #1 ‘Where You At?’ gives you no indication of the journey on which you are about to travel. The delicate ambience of this opening underlines the depth of instrumentation Jonas has collated. The strings fade, the rhythmic bass kicks in, and the horns now add sweetness.
You’ll discover this theme throughout the album, the balance between hard and soft in a delightful fusion.
Are You Still My Lady Pt. I is the question posed in Track #2. This funky/soulful groove gets broken down with an expressive sax solo midway through, before smoothly taking you into Are You Still My Lady Pt. II. The question remains unanswered, but it’s now funked up with an added hip-hop vibe too. Magnum Coltrane Prices vocals are smooth, fluid and well-rounded.
…a smooth Sunday morning instrumental with blissful flutes singing like sweet birds
Track #4 ‘And You Are’ is a smooth Sunday morning instrumental with blissful flutes singing like sweet birds.
Perfect for busting loud from an open-top car is the funky ‘C How we Ride‘, and as the sun sets the cruise continues with the track ‘Half Hearted‘ with Magnum continuing to provide funky vocals.
Track #8 I Don’t Understand – is a jazzy soul instrumental full of Grover Washington Jr. flavour.
Jonas has taken all the elements he loves and clearly given them all the space and time they need, with no track under 4 minutes in length.
The complete album offers a restrained funk and injected with a smooth, soulful vibe to offer a satisfying listen from start to finish.
Now, both Google and you should be able to find Jonas Wall & The Wallytones too!
Like This is available digitally and on CD from CDBaby.
The Review
The complete album offers a restrained funk and injected with a smooth, soulful vibe to offer a satisfying listen from start to finish.
Review Breakdown
- 4