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JEFF SHAREL Jeff Sharel (STA232004) Statra Recordings 2000 09 Tracks. 44mins18secs. Buy this CD on line now

Sometimes, a record hits you in the face, and it seems there no room for anything else. Jeff Sharel’s first album is one of them. Sitting comfortably somewhere between St Germain’s Tourist, Moby’s Play and Squarepusher’s Music Has Rotted One Note, Sharel offers a nice alternative to jazz and electronic music. Opening with a little diamond, Piano d’Hiver, a chilled and melodic deep-jazz track, Sharel goes on to explore all sorts of territories, from fusion, on Hounza or Time Condition, to funk, on the massively groovy Tribute Part Two or Tribute Final. In between these more upbeat moments, he manages to insert some great moments of calm. Tribute One, or even more, Conte d’Automne, on which a flute invites the listener for a drink in a smoky late night piano bar, give an insight on the full talent of the man. The musical constructions are all equally brilliant, the man is sure of himself and shows it. Of St Germain, Sharel has the sense of melody and groove. Of Moby, he has the creativity. Of Squarepusher, he has the energy and innocence. But what transpires mostly all along this record, is that Jeff Sharel is only on the first step of his evolution.

TRACK LISTING 01 Piano d'Hiver 06 Conte d'Automne 02 Hounza 07 Tribute Final 03 Tribute One 08 Time Condition 04 Vénusté 09 Petit Conte d'Eté 05 Tribute Part Two

RELATED REVIEWS ST GERMAIN - Tourist SQUAREPUSHER - Selection Sixteen

THE SURFER'S GUIDE TO JEFF SHAREL STATRA RECORDINGS New York's Statra Recordings have only released a handfull of records so far, but they seem to head in the high quality music direction. Good site too.