But keyboardist James Lloyd and drummer Curtis Harmon, the founding duo and driving force behind the enduring contemporary jazz collective known as Pieces of a Dream, haven’t forgotten that the old school is still the place where some of the best and most enduring musical ideas are born.
Nearly three decades after their first recordings, Pieces of a Dream revisits their original approach to songwriting and recording with Soul Intent, set for worldwide release on February 24th.
In many respects, the new album takes a back-to-basics approach, one that maximizes the most fundamental and enduring components of the Pieces experience.
“One of my main goals was to go back to the original approach to making a Pieces record,” says Lloyd. “The idea was to bring everyone into the studio at the same time so we could all work together in real time. A lot of people really get into that vintage sound from our first three albums.”
The sense of togetherness and common purpose is evident from the opening bars of the upbeat and lighthearted “Sway On,” a tune that builds a solid groove on a straightforward recurring riff. Written and produced by Lloyd, the track maximizes the interplay between Lloyd’s keyboards and Tony Watson Jr.’s artful sax runs.
While there’s no denying the consistently high caliber of music generated by Pieces of a Dream over the course of their lengthy career, Soul Intent may be the most direct, back-to-basics experience of this enduring jazz combo in many years.
The intent is clear: a little bit of soul, delivered the old-fashioned way.
For more information on Pieces of a Dream you can check out Heads Up International’s website, headsup.com.
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