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Balancing Act

 
Album Review: Balancing Act

  • Artist: Balancing Act
  • Rating: StarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: 2005 10 21-2005 10 20
  • Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Centered around bassists Matthew Henninger and Cameron McLaughlin, Balancing Act put together an organic mix of funk, neo-soul, and groove jazz on their self-titled debut album. An unusual concept in theory, the two-bass style of this six-piece ensemble works superbly in practice and allows Henninger and McLaughlin to layer various melodies and rhythms on top of each other in sophisticated and increasingly funky ways. This is pop music informed by such legendary bassists as Jaco Pastorious and Bootsy Collins. In that sense, songs such as the midtempo jam "Rubber B-Man" as well as the pastoral "On Winding Roads" find Henninger and McLaughlin weaving their supple, rounded bass figures into patchwork quilts of sound. And it's not just the four-string voices that impress here. On the contrary, with vocals from drummer Jonathan Ovalle, organist Joshua Shilling, as well as contributions from singers Madeline Davis and Angel Bond, Balancing Act bring to mind the polished acid-jazz approach Brand New Heavies mixed with the classic work of '70s soul icon Bill Withers. ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Trim the Fat Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin, Joshua Shilling Balancing Act (4:54)
The Day I Let You Go Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin, Jonathan Ovalle Balancing Act (5:33)
Rubber B-Man Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin Balancing Act (4:36)
Coming Home Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin, Joshua Shilling Balancing Act (4:42)
Tell Me Now Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin, Jonathan Ovalle Balancing Act (4:48)
On Winding Roads Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin Balancing Act (4:02)
Interlude [Una Dia en LA Officia] Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin, Jonathan Ovalle Balancing Act (1:14)
Sans Cam Matthew Henninger Balancing Act (4:13)
Get Your Love, Pt. 1 Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin, Jonathan Ovalle Balancing Act (3:23)
Ka Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin Balancing Act (2:49)
Wonderful Madeline Davis, Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin Balancing Act (4:30)
Where's One Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin Balancing Act (3:17)
Touch You Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin, Jonathan Ovalle, Joshua Shilling Balancing Act (4:32)
The Real Me Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin, Jonathan Ovalle, Angel Bond Balancing Act (3:50)
Sittin' on That Matthew Henninger, Cameron McLaughlin Balancing Act (7:12)

Credits

Pat Seymour (Sax (Tenor)), Eric Wojahn (Engineer), Eric Wojahn (Editing), Eric Wojahn (Mastering), Eric Wojahn (Mixing), Madeline Davis (Vocals), Matthew Henninger (Bass), Matthew Henninger (Engineer), Matthew Henninger (Executive Producer), Matthew Henninger (Editing), Matthew Henninger (Mixing), Cameron McLaughlin (Bass), Cameron McLaughlin (Executive Producer), Cameron McLaughlin (Mixing), Angel Bond (Vocals)
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Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more

 

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