Any artist who takes his or her craft seriously will inevitably reach a point on the journey when history can no longer be overlooked. The direct line between the music of now and the music of then becomes too important to ignore, and the riches of generations past are suddenly rediscovered - and eventually reinterpreted for a new era. Saxophonist Mindi Abair has reached that critical juncture. After more than a decade of performing, songwriting and recording, she has taken a step back from the more polished sensibilities of contemporary jazz and embraced the sounds of past decades - specifically the `60s and early `70s, a period widely regarded as the golden age of R&B, soul and funk. The result is In Hi-Fi Stereo. The album captures the raw and edgy aesthetic of that golden age, when a slab of vinyl could instantaneously put band and listener together in the same room and establish a visceral and enduring connection. Loaded with infectious grooves generated by a high-caliber crew of players, In Hi-Fi Stereo rekindles that spark for a new generation of ears. "This album is a reflection of some of the older, more soulful records I've been listening to in the last couple years," says Abair, firing off a list of favorites that include Al Green, Alain Toussaint, Junior Walker, King Curtis, Archie Bell and the Drells, and many others. "I think it all kind of seeped into me over time. I wanted to move away from a more produced sound and just get into the studio and play. It didn't have to be perfect. It didn't have to be shiny and new. It's not an intellectual record. It's a fun, feel-good record inspired by some of those great sounds and grooves from that period, but recast for a modern audience." Co-produced by Abair and R&B mainstay Rex Rideout (who also lays down keyboards on nearly every track), In Hi-Fi Stereo includes a roster of players representing the old school as well as the new. In addition to Abair's touring band, the album is seasoned with a number of guest players: veteran drummer James Gadson (a frequent session player for Bill Withers, Amos Lee and Nikka Costa), bassist Reggie McBride (Aretha, Rickie Lee Jones and Keb' Mo'), Mindi's Berklee classmate and friend Lalah Hathaway, nominated 2010 R&B Female Vocalist of the year, Ryan Collins and David Ryan Harris. Start to finish, In Hi-Fi Stereo is something classic and something new at the same time. "It's a vintage sounding record, a modern take on a very classic sound," she says. "We didn't make your father's jazz record. We didn't set out to make an `old' record. It's not about doing what's been done before. It's about drawing on what and who inspires you, and bringing it into your world and making it your own - and then putting it out there for a new generation of people who love jazz and soul."
T**A
Another great CD from the beautiful lady!
Wow! Maybe it's because I listened to James Brown, the Temptations, Junior Walker, the Four Tops, Archie Bell and the Drells while cruising the strip in the 60s in my hot rod 55 Chevy. Or, maybe from listening to groups like Tower of Power, Cold Blood, and Kool and the Gang in my Harley riding days after a stint in the U.S. Army. For whatever reason I absolutely love this latest effort by the beautiful Mindi Abair.Every song on this CD has a unique style; with some guest singers, tasteful use of horn sections, organ, piano, guitar, bass, etc. Yet, at no time does any of these outshine her very hot sax work, but rather complements perfectly. Starting right out with "Any Way You Wanna" which is exactly the way I wanna, you get a great mix of funky, soulful, and rocking music. Just listen to her smoking hot sax work in "All Star", "Down For The Count", "Girls Night Out", and "Take Me Home". all arrangements on this CD are excellent.The guest vocals are also great -- I love the rocking "Get Right" sung by Ryan Collins, again, accompanied by her hot sax playing. And I'm afraid that I disagree with earlier reviews, I think the treatment of James Brown's "it's a Man's, Man's, Man's, World" is excellent. Both the singing of Lalah Hathaway and Mindi's hot sax playing are soulful, sultry, and sexy, yes, it is just my opinion, but I think it is awesome, and the longer it goes, the hotter it gets. I'm sorry to be redundant, but just like all of her previous albums, every song on this CD is good, there is nothing weak on it, and I will be playing this CD a lot. This effort, her latest, is nothing short of brilliant. Buy this CD, you will love it!The recording quality is also top-notch. If you are an old-fashioned audiophile with a high-quality, high powered stereo system, and you like to rock out, you will love this. You will not be disappointed. Live from the Inside (CD/DVD) Blues for You Sessions, Volume 1 Born 2 Groove
M**N
Modern Jazz Sax
She is a very talented musician and I am fond of all of her music to date.
T**E
A warm, engaging album
Mindi Abair is one of my favorite artists, so I was naturally a bit worried when she announced that this newest album, her sixth, would be a departure from her previous four efforts. Artists need to grow, of course, but Mindi's last four albums already showed a steady progression. (Her first album, not widely available, is Always and Never the Same, in which Mindi mostly sings and plays very little saxophone.) This new album comes across as warm and engaging jazz from the era of the "hi-fi" stereo, hence the name of the album. The instrumentals are all good. The two vocals, by David Ryan Harris on "Be Beautiful" and Lalah Hathaway on the James Brown classic "It's a Man's, Man's, Man's World" are the weakest tracks. Neither generates much excitement, and the latter isn't all that well suited to a jazz treatment. Also, Mindi typically has contributed two or three vocals on her previous four jazz albums, but none here, which is a real loss. Nonetheless, it's a good album overall and her fans likely will not be disappointed.
M**N
Great Sax Jazz
Really like Mindi. I like her style and the selections of songs. Also she uses live artists to back her up, no drum machines and programed Synthesizers. Strong Melodies, not just a bunch of up and down runs. If you like Sax Jazz give her a try! also very easy on the eyes as a bonus.
A**R
Five Stars
Well composed
B**L
An artist of high caliber
I love it, love it Love it!!!!!!
A**R
Great listening music.
Love it. Enjoyed listening to it.
J**Z
Outstanding saxophone player.
Mindi is a truly outstanding saxophone player; I've seen them live which is why I purchased the CD. Her band is also quite good. About half of the tracks on this CD are very, very good, and the others are definitely "listenable." The singer on "Man's World" is fabulous!
T**R
Adicción al groove
Qué se puede decir de Mindi Abair que no salte a la vista viéndola actuar: amplísimas posibilidades técnicas y dinámicas, un sonido apasionado pero sin estridencias y un "buen rollo" contagioso y que te puede arrastrar sin remedio a amar el saxo. Me animé a comprar este mi primer CD de ella y me alegro sinceramente de haberlo hecho. 11 temas con mucho soul, mucho groove, y ese toque romántico que da calorcito al corazón y revela el mucho amor puesto en su producción. ¡Me encanta! Lo recomiendo sin dudarlo. El título del CD le va como anillo al dedo: mucha, mucha, mucha alta fidelidad. ¡Saludos!
K**E
ミンディが７０年代風ソウルジャズで旋風！
ミンディ・アビエールは、１０年前ソロデビューした女性サキソフォン奏者＆ボーカリストで３０歳代半ば。最近ではスムーズ・ジャズの巨匠ピーター・ホワイトやリック・ブラウンと競演して、その軽やかな歌声とハイブリッドな凄みあるサックスプレイで、アメリカ西海岸を中心に絶大な人気を誇っている。（日本ではなぜかキャンディー・ダルファーに食われているようだが・・・）彼女はいままでスムーズ・ジャズ路線を走ってきたわけだか、本作品は７０年代を髣髴とさせるソウルジャズのヘビーなアルバムである。「エニィウェイ・ユー・ウァナ」「ダウン・フォー・ザ・カウント」などミディアムテンポで重厚感あるソウルフル音楽に仕上がっている。５枚目のリーダー作でこの人はディビット・サンボーンの奏法に近いのだと実感させられた。思い切りの良さと迫力プレイはキャンディと双璧だろう。今回はインスト中心で得意の歌はない。キャンディも父親がサックス奏者だが、ミンディは父親をずいぶん意識したに違いない。大き目のアルトなので低い音が良く出ていて、サビの高音がよく光る。ＹＯＵＴＵＢＥの映像を見ると、その美しいプラチナブロンドの髪に気を奪われがち。だが、ロングツアーで鍛えたせいか肺活量が増したようで体が筋肉質になってきた。「オール・スター」ではリッキー・ピーターソンのオルガンセンスが良く、デビット・シイルスの切れのいいギターは聴いていて気持ちいい。
