Album Review, Colourful House - Zoe Schwarz, Rob Koral & Friends - BLUES CORNER MOZAIK - Poprock.hr from Croatia
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Back in late October—or, if you prefer, on October 31 of last year—the album Colourful House was released, credited to Zoe Schwarz, Rob Koral & Friends.
This studio release, without any doubt, represents a highly significant step forward in every aspect of musical creativity. This inspired ensemble—Zoe Schwarz (vocals), Rob Koral (guitars), Pete Whittaker (Hammond organ and piano), Eddie John (drums), Paddy Blight (bass – tracks 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6), Anth Caplen (bass guitar – tracks 3 and 7–14), Craig Alexander (backing and additional vocals), Ian Ellis (tenor saxophone – track 8), and Andy Urquhart (trumpet – track 8)—recorded this album with real mastery.
This is, in fact, a strongly authorial work in which guitarist Rob Koral and Zoe Schwarz clearly present and articulate an original musical expression. The music incorporates numerous musical elements, abounds in inspired arrangements, and features direct yet carefully considered musical solutions. Above these excellent musical foundations, Zoe Schwarz’s vocals truly shine. In her vocal modulation one can hear many influences of the great jazz, soul, and blues divas, but what is especially notable is her original, highly personal, and clearly defined stylistic approach. All of this points to their overall musical skill and success, making it unnecessary to search for any shortcomings.
The outstanding musical chemistry that flows between singer Zoë Schwarz and guitarist Rob Koral is literally intoxicating, captivating the listener through its sincere and authentic presentation. This inspired duo does not allow the rest of the band a moment of relaxation or stagnation. They are constantly moving forward and never cease to delight their fans, as well as the wider music-loving audience. Therefore, the “subtle” Hammond player Pete Whittaker must not be overlooked, nor the exceptionally powerful rhythm section. Listening to this latest studio release, one can state without hesitation that this is music that spiritually uplifts all those who choose to devote time to listening to the album calmly and attentively.
So what does it offer us? It delivers an expressive and warm blend of blues, along with a vocal expression in which elements of jazz and ever-intoxicating soul rhythms intertwine very successfully and effectively. From the very first listen, the album feels natural and relaxing, completely unburdened by any rigid musical frameworks. This group clearly knows how to shape each individual song so that it ultimately speaks for itself, while at the same time a sense of compactness, a distinctive musical atmosphere, and dynamic flow prevails throughout the entire album.
Throughout Colourful House, Schwarz, Koral, and friends move with great confidence and assurance between styles, continuously emphasizing blues as the fundamental foundation of this musical story.
In conclusion, what we have before us is an exceptionally cohesive, incredibly warm and relaxing, yet at the same time very engaging album—one that simply calls for repeated listening.
Recommendation
The album Colourful House by Zoe Schwarz, Rob Koral & Friends carries a very clear message at its core, which reads:
“Whether it is blues, jazz, soul, or something else is less important; the only thing that matters is that what we hear is simply good music. And that’s it.”
words by: Mladen Loncar (Mike)
