Moonrise Samba – Todd Mosby (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

The fact that Todd Mosby is one of the few musicians to have mastered Western composition, jazz improvisation, and Indian raga music forms explains why his music seems to exist in many genres and geographys, reflects numerous styles and eras all at once. He easily strides between musical worlds, bringing the heart of one to mix with the soul of another, and the result is never short of beautiful.

Here, as the name suggests, here, we are in the realms of smooth samba, but even then, things are not as simple as they might seem. He deftly blends Steely Dan-esque jazz-rock progressions, muscular solos and mellifluous melodies through this Latin groove. It is further laced with south-of-the-border vibes, 60’s pop touches and the romance and resonance of dancing slowly and sensually under warm, starlit skies.

Even without vocal lines, the music speaks to you. More than that, It beckons to you, demanding that you move to its sophisticated rhythms and seductive beats. In the right pair of hands, music can be clever like that. Todd Mosby is very much the right pair of hands.