| |
"One of the best debuts
I've ever heard was the eponymous album by Jamie Bonk.
A Perfect Tomorrow, his second effort, is already a huge
critical hit, based on playlist
reports I have seen. And it's no wonder. The CD both underscores
and bold-faces Jamie's
talent as a composer and a performer. His way with hooks is still
there in abundance and
his trademark carefree melodicism, even on the more laid-back cuts,
flows through this
CD like a mountain stream. In short, it appears that Jamie has escaped
the sophomore
slump with ease, in the process delivering another batch of highly
likable tunes to his new
legion of fans.
What is new on this recording, though, is the presence of other
musicians. Jamie Bonk
was a completely solo effort, with Jamie handling all instruments.
On A Perfect
Tomorrow he is joined by Jack Vorvis on drums and percussion and Sonya Mitlewski
on keyboards. In addition, Jamie's guitar playing is considerably more forward
in the mix (I confirmed this with him via email and this is intentional). The result is an album
which showcases Jamie's dexterous fingers and fiery fretwork. This is, without a doubt,
a guitar-lover's album.
Which is not to say that it's solo guitar. Starting off with the
cheerful uptempo opener,
"Tofino," Jack's drums and Sonya's keys make their contributions
immediately felt and
said contributions are extremely complementary. The rhythms are
kinetic and lively and
the synths provide both an undercurrent and a series of melodic
fills that fits with Jamie's
playing perfectly. "Drift Away" marries lush synth strings, gently
swaying rhythms and a
subtle world music- flavored guitar to paint a midtempo but sweetly
sad number.
"Just Now,"starts off with some interesting playing by Jamie, sounding
a bit like Michael Hedges, and is soon buoyed by a series of spacy
synth notes. It's when the refrain kicks
in, featuring overdubbed strumming, that a big grin factor settles
in on my face. Tropical
picking on lead enhances the exotic nature of the song at times.
Delicious, my man.
"Rain" follows with a melancholic mixture of keyboards and slow
tempo percussion and
graceful guitar.
With thirteen songs on A Perfect Tomorrow, it'd take
a lot of words to elaborate on all
the pleasures awaiting the lucky listener of this recording. The
joyful, calypso-rhythm-tinted "Pretty Girl," the urban sensibilities of "Too Deep For Tears" with
its time changes counterpointing the overall somberness of the song, the smokin'
"Haze" with lightning leads mirrored by swooshing synth lines, and the smoky sensualities
of "Small Pleasures."
Suffice it to say that this album cements Jamie's rep as an artist
who can play and
compose with the best in the field of adult contemporary instrumental
music. The music
on A Perfect Tomorrow is the work of a mature and
gifted musician, ably assisted by
accompanists who seem to follow his lead with almost instinctual
ease. All in all, it's a
solid follow-up and highly recommended." - Bill Binkelman - Wind
and Wire
- February 2001.
|
|