Album Review: The Art of Life from Norman Johnson

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Album:  The Art of Life
Artist:  Norman Johnson
Label:  Self-Released
Website:  http://normanjohnsonguitar.com

Guitar fusion, R&B/soul, and dance funk come together on guitarist Norman Johnson's third solo effort The Art of Life.   Johnson demonstrates his intuitive nature to play to the grooving beat, cultivating a symbiotic rapport that engulfs the listener in harmonious rhapsodies.  Johnson's performance crosses over the music spectrum from smooth jazz to dance pop, adding to each genre.

The mid-tempo grooves of "Sing On" are modulated with a touch of reggae, complementing the bopping chord movements of Johnson's guitar.  The tune is further layered in intervals of lobbing splashes from the tooting horns.  The smooth sensations emitting from Johnson's guitar infuse light rivulets along the title track, producing a succor effect on the listener.  Conversely, "Old School" is seared by a dance funk groove laced in the light tremors of Johnson's guitar and fringed by the ruffled notes of the horns, adding dimension to the track.  The calypso-tinged gusts framing "It's You" produce a festive mood as June Bisantz's vocals enhance the island-induced ambience.  Finishing the recording with "Summer Dance," the Latin-inspired rhythm is sheath in glittering horns that pull the listener into its harmonious soundscape.

Influenced by the music of George Benson and Earl Klugh, Norman Johnson focuses his original works to invite audiences into uplifting spirits.  Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Johnson refreshes old school R&B and soul idioms, showing a fondness for guitar fusion and transitioning pop-influenced modes into contemporary landscapes.  Johnson takes chord structures that have been handed down to him from his predecessors and retools them, re-imagines them to his liking.

Musicians:
Norman Johnson - guitar, bass, piano, and vocals
Chris Herbert - saxophone
John Mastroianni - saxophone
Bill Holloman - horns
Jeff Holmes - trumpet
Steve Davis - trombone
Ed Fast - drums
Matt Dwonszyk - bass
Grayson Hugh - vocals
June Bisantz - vocals
Atla Dechamplain - vocals
Poller Messer - vocals
Lisa Marien - vocals
Mitch Chakour - piano and organ
Alex Nakhmovsky - piano

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