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A Jazzy Journey Through Nature: A Review of Gary Paul Bryant's "WildLife"
By Liz Singer
While the album's title suggests a record that is solely about nature and all of its creatures, this phenomenal jazz recording includes settings much more diverse than your average forest. "WildLife" has the musical ability to switch not only the mood, but also the scene, in every song. Just like a walk through nature, you are never sure of what animals, insects or noises you may stumble upon along the way.
The album's journey begins with the title track "WildLife," as you can picture the glistening ponds and birds chirping in the distance. The sweet sounds of the synthesizer relocate listeners to the middle of a peaceful forest, as the vibe is simply heavenly. The track is perfect for relaxing after a long, stressful day, as it makes you feel at peace with the universe. Not only does it include the jazzy saxophone and triangle, but also the ting-tinging bells. Moving to a slightly groovier, psychedelic sound on "One Cool Squirrel," listeners suddenly get the sensation that they're strolling through New Orleans at night, mesmerized by the classy tone of the city, complete with street musicians and shining lights from the local bars. Changing the scene, "Elephant in the Room" creates a trip on a carpet ride over the desert. And on "No Possum In My Pond," a jazzy beatnik scene is enforced, while the piano is especially dazzling. The keys sound so smooth that you can actually picture Bryant's hands effortlessly sliding over the ivory.
One of the strongest tracks is "Licking A Low Tide," which transitions from a tone of mourning and nostalgia into a brave power-tune in a matter of seconds. Listeners are initially made to feel as if they are on the beach at sunset, looking out at the sea and dreaming of a lost love. Then, suddenly, the track becomes uplifting, inspiring all those in pain to move forward. Above the music, the song teaches the lesson that life goes on; just as the waves crash against the shore and wash back into the sea, so too will the heart mend itself and learn to love again.
Perhaps the edgiest track, "Burning Hills" sends you racing away from danger; you can feel the suspense as the blood runs more quickly through your veins while the beat intensifies. Throughout the song, you adventure on a street race from the cops, zooming through alleys, never sure of what's going to happen next—and just before you find out, the song abruptly ends. Taking you to another far-off place, "Barely a Polar Bear" leaves you in the middle of the arctic, looking out at the wonder of the frozen world. While in amazement of the purest white your eyes have ever seen, the sweet piano melody brings a smile to your face. While each track takes you far from where you began, the most impressive song is "Raptor Ridge." The tune begins with the divine harmony of a choir, and then the keys start leading a path straight to heaven while the electric instrumentals guide the way. The song constantly rotates between vocals and instrumentals, making you wonder if you're in the middle of a Jimi Hendrix concert or floating on a cloud...or both.
On the proudly triumphant anthem "The Grand Stampede," you can imagine the animals parading down a line, side by side. The track switches back and forth between dominant horns and passive yet crystal clear flutes to create the perfect balance among the creatures of nature: the weak walk alongside the strong, all marching together in peace and setting an example for mankind.
After all the moving around from song to song and location to location, "WildLife" leaves you ready for bed with "Two Birds on a Boesendorfer." The song functions as a subdued, beautifully articulate bedtime story, as the comforting keys tuck you in for a good night's sleep. After a fulfilling, eventful trip around the globe, including encounters with every environment and animal imaginable, the astounding musicality of Bryant's "WildLife" leaves listeners not only calmer, but also more at one with the ‘WildLife' around them.
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