Release Date: October 31, 2019
Label: JRB Records
Jeffrey Reid Baker's release Concrete Jungle is an instrumental conglomerate of sounds. Because of that, I found it difficult to put a genre label on it except Instrumental. The artist's website explains it: "A mix of cinematic, ambient, light jazz, and Latin styles that is the unique world of Baker's musical vision."
Tracks like the title
track, "Concrete Jungle," envelop you in a jazz atmosphere, instantly
resonating with the artist's music description. On the other hand,
"Rainforest Chorale" transports you to an ethereal ambient world, its
sounds weaving a captivating tapestry.
"Mesquite" is
more relaxed and new-age-like. The keyboards' calmness and layers make you feel
like you could melt right into your favorite easy chair—that's the whole point.
Then "Bareback" is more of a movie soundtrack track, complete with a
click of the horse galloping down the road. "Top of The Hill" was
also very upbeat and cinematic.
I was impressed with the
constant change from track to track—diversity rules for my attentive ears. And
that became readily apparent just a few tracks in. Natural talent can quickly
jump from one style/genre to the next and present it all properly.
Jeffrey Reid Baker is very
successful in Concrete Jungle. His talents are many within each composition, and he
uses the tools and instruments to create the right atmosphere and attract the
attention of a prospective listener.
Listening to this music, I
felt many things. The reason for that is the overall eclectic track selection
and the way it was performed. If you are searching for something relaxing,
different, and diverse, Concrete Jungle may be the antidote to help calm you down and
readjust your mindset and attitude. Considering it was released five years ago
and the strides made with technology and recording music every year, the artist
did a good job putting all of this together.
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-MuzikMan.net Founder
April 3, 2024
Tracks:
01. HIGHER GROUND
02. BLACK HILLS
03. CONCRETE JUNGLE
04. RAINFOREST CHORALE
05. MESQUITE
06. BAREBACK
07. CLOUDS 501
08. TOP OF THE HILL
09. SUNDOWN
10. DOWN HILL
11. BACKSTREET
12. MOONBEAM
13. NIGHT RIDER
14. TALES END