Review
If you live in a thirty-mile radius of New York City and listen to the more popular smooth jazz stations you have heard track ten, Jealousy, the title of the CD. The haunting saxophone lead and the evocative vocals are the first release of Flantis and GT Ninja.
On the CD you get two more renditions of Jealousy: tracks eleven and twelve. The latter is an uncharacteristic urban mix in which the diction is such that one understands every word one hears. Even if you’re alien to hip hop you can enjoy that version too. In an unintended way, it exemplifies the CD. The arrangement is polished, the voices are understated and in harmony with the saxophone, the background vocals and other accompaniment. All the other tracks have this quality.
GT is the acronym for Georgetown, the capital of Guyana, and the origin of the ten member GT Ninja Band comprised of family members, other Guyanese and a Barbadian. The Brooklyn, New York band is led by Erwin Edwards (Flantis) and is popular with fellow Guyanese and other West Indians in cities across North America. Through ‘mainstream’ radio airplay of Jealousy, and Flantis’ studio work on recordings for other West Indian artistes, the Flantis saxophone sound is known to many, many more, but they don’t know his roots. His talent makes it unimportant to this recording although that is a typical circumstance of the Guyanese contribution to the Arts: generally unrecognized. But there is no antipathy — just Jealousy, a joyful sound. that will fit neatly in the Easy Listening section of your collection. [eCaroh/Ron]
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