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Although it's easy to envision top 40 S P O T L I G H T S P O T L I G H T S P O T L I G H T programmers embracing such lively and infectious material, it's the downtempo, tkCJr'3gÉ Qt:AG';:.. Y hM1E.E.S(2_ pure pop vibe of "Uh, La, La, La," with its crafty blend of campfire chants and ALIVS hip-hop beat scratching that will keep EIDITElD BY PAUL VERNA Alexia in the game beyond the life span of any time- sensitive trend. POP p THE ROLLING STONES JAll Bridges To Babylon DOMINIQUE EADE PRODUCERS: Don Was, the Dust Brothers, the Glim- When The Wind Was Cool mer Twins, Danny Saber, Rob Fraboni PRODUCER: Ben Sidran Virgin 44712 RCA Victor 68858 Like their recent studio records "Steel Engaging jazz vocalist Dominique Eade Wheels" and "Voodoo Lounge," the Pit \til:_ makes her major-label debut with an Rolling Stones' current release shows artful tribute to June Christy and Chris glimpses of why they're universally held singers noted for BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB THE MOTOR Connor, their as the greatest living rock'n'roll band, KRONOS QUARTET CITY MASS CHOIR unadorned intonation and affecting PRODUCER: Ry Cooder Early Music (Lachrymae Antiquae) Shout In The House but otherwise it falls short of standing vocal timbres (as well as singing with World Circuit/Nonesuch 79478 PRODUCERS: Judith Sherman, the Kronos Quartet PRODUCER: Fred Hammond up as a complete work. For every heart- Stan Kenton's band). Although Eade's felt, driving tune like "Saint Of Me," Some of Cuba's most talented Nonesuch 79457 Hosanna 11412 artists- Ibrahim Ferrer, Rubén Renowned for its championing of con- Writer /arranger/producer Fred tone is warmer and livelier than theirs, lead single "Anybody Seen My Baby ?," the material fits perfectly, especially the and the Keith Richards -sung "You Don't González, Eliades Ochoa, Compay temporary composers, the Kronos Hammond continues in leaps and Segundo, and others -team up with Quartet has largely resisted the bounds, with various ensembles, torchy, piano- accompanied duet of Have To Mean It," there are flat- footed "When The Wind Was Green" and the tracks like "Flip The Switch" and "Out worldly musician/producer Ry Cooder allure of the past. And with the stun- to color outside the lines of the for a delightful project that paints a ning "Early Music," the group doesn't predictable, and in so doing is yearning balladry of "Something Cool," Of Control." Regardless of the album's which is adorned with guest star Benny uneven pace, it is likely to make a huge vivid and accurate picture of the so much essay archaic sounds as draw having a significant hand in country's living musical heritage. parallels between the ages, tracing redrawing the whole tapestry of Golson's caressing sax lines. Eade's splash, thanks to the group's high -pro- skillful syncopation is apparent in her file tour and the fact that it's been three More than a fusion of styles -as the strain of austere melancholy so modern gospel music. This outing Cooder's collaborations with Ali prevalent before the Baroque and so with the young, revved -up Motor deliciously out -of-phase phrasing on years since fans have heard new materi- "Lullaby Of Birdland" and her breath- al from them. Farka Touré and V.M. Bhatt were - resonant today. Kronos explores tran- City Mass Choir expands on the this project is pure Cuban folklore, scriptions of vocal masterpieces by concept of revitalizing standards less, patter -scat take on "Tea For Two." with Cooder as an unobtrusive Perotin and Machaut and consort of contemporary praise and wor- Eade is also the author of the witty COUNTRY ensemble player and facilitator. Its music by Dowland and Tye, as well as ship music with a deft R &B flavor. woodwind arrangement of "Moonray," highlights include Ferrer's spiritual folk melodies from East and West. Hammond's taste and touch are as well as the charts for a brisk bossa * SARA EVANS nova version of Noel Coward's "Poor Three Chords And The Truth "De Camino A La Vereda," the jam Most notable, though, are the modern impeccable, from the kicking, "El Cuarto De Tula," and the classic takes on ancient forms by such icono- funky "We Are Marching" and the Little Rich Girl" and a beaming, scat - PRODUCER: Pete Anderson ified spin through "I'll Take Romance." RCA 66995 boleros "Dos Gardenias" (sung by clasts as Harry Partch and the great hip -hop workout "Ain't Gonna Let Sara Evans is so good she's scary. At Ferrer) and "Veinte Años" (delivered Alfred Schnittke, whose "Collected No Rock," to a reverential take on once a preserver of the best of country's by the album's only female performer, Songs Where Every Verse Is Filled the evergreen "Give Thanks." LATIN history and a progressive writer and Omara Portuondo). A vital document With Grief" is this haunting album's From start to finish, an exciting, ALEJANDRO FERNÁNDEZ singer forging a timeless contemporary of a music untouched by the times. signal work. exhilarating ride. Me Estoy Enamorando country sound, she invites favorable PRODUCER: Emilio Estefan Jr., Kike Santader comparisons to the divas. best country ranging from Raul Malo to Reese Bogguss, Patty Loveless, and Martina rently importing their candy -sweet Sony Discos/Sony 82446 She has a big, powerful voice that can Wynans to Kim Carnes. Berg's McBride. sound to stateside dancefloors. She At the height of his popularity as a successfully take on Buck Owens' "I've vignettes of Southern life are particu- avoids being just another face in the ranchero star, this handsome singer Got A Tiger By The Tail" or caress the larly compelling in such affecting short crowd by wisely tempering the chirpy with a stentorian baritone puts out a lovely, understated ballad "Unopened" stories as "Good 01' Girl" and "Back D A N C E vocals inherent in this area of the dance disc sporting a daring blend of bolero/ or do the Patsy Cline torch -song thing When We Were Beautiful." She also ALEXIA genre with the occasional throaty rant. pop/ranchera sounds that has spawned with "Imagine That." She also revives includes what is for her a very light- Fun Club By doing this, she transforms the deriv- a top five hit, "Si Tú Supieras." With the with co saga song tradition her -writ- hearted -and ribald -outing with "Back PRODUCER: Robyn ative ditties "Number One" and "Anoth- Emilio Estefan Jr. co- producing and "The ten Week The River Raged." In The Saddle," on which she's joined Popular /Critique 12018 er Way" into mildly cred:ble anthems wife Gloria chipping in a duet, it is a Anderson's bright, punchy production is by a cackling quartet of Faith Hill, Suzy Alexia joins the army of Euro -dolls cur- demanding peak -hour turntable action. sure bet the label will go to the mat for a perfect foil for her penchant for melo- a ballad -laden disc that might broaden drama. The title cut is a haunting, Fernandez's rapidly expanding fan vibrato -laden modern -day country VITAL REISSUES'e base. anthem and serves notice that Evans is a considerable country talent. BRAHMS: Complete Chamber Music formers as violinist Arthur Grumiaux, string works, Haydn's piano trios in PRODUCERS: Various the Beaux Arts Trio, Quartetto Italiano, definitive performances by the Beaux CLASSICAL *MATRACA BERG Philips 454 073 cellist Janos Starker, and clarinetist Arts Trio, and a complete set of MUSIC OF PETERIS VASKS Sunday Morning To Saturday Night Philips may seem like a confused label George Pieterson. From tumultuous pas- Beethoven's string quartets by Quartet - * I Fiamminghi, Rudolf Werthen PRODUCER: Emory Gordy Jr. these days, but it has had the great taste sion to mellow repose, the whole of life is to Italiano that competes with any full- PRODUCER: James Mallinson Rising Tide RPD/C -53047 and keen judgment to reissue some of the in this music, and do it Also the recordings priced set. out: Haydn's "name" Telarc 80457 Although known primarily as one of the gems of its glory years in a series of gor- full justice. You couldn't ask for a more symphonies and Mozart's complete sym- pre- eminent songwriters in Nashville, geous, budget-priced boxed sets. Among This continues Telarc and the Flemish attractive introduction to Brahms, and phonies with Sir Neville Marriner and orchestra I Fiamminghi's process of Matraca Berg is also quite a singer, and the several now out, the most impressive Philips' slim, state -of -the -art packaging large orchestral surveys of Handel and recording the work of great Eastern this album effectively unites her talents. is an 11 -CD set of Brahms' complete is a boon for space-strapped collectors. Berlioz. These collections should domi- She is well showcased by Gordy's chamber works. Recorded from 1966- composers like Gorecki, Part, or The other budget boxes include a lovely nate the repertoire at their price range. Kancheli after they've become popular understated production and by guests 1980, the discs feature such great per- pair of I Musici collections of Vivaldi's Bravo and encore, Philips. (Continued on page 85)

"REVENGE ON THE TELEMARKETERS"

TOM MAGE launches a one -man hilarious attack against Featuring ... one of life's biggest annoyances ... "Crime and The Carpet Cleaner" Telemarketers!! "Phone Sex" Exploding at Retail "He's got my vote, this guy is great." - MAN COW, WRCX "Book him now before Letterman does." - JEFF KATZ, WRKO "Sales are skyrocketing." - KEVIN E N G L E R, BEST BUY "I can't keep enough in stock." - CHARLIE INMAN, KARMA #16 HARDER THAN NORMAL RECORDS "4 STARS - One of the top comedy albums in recent. memory." #60017 - 2/4 Distributed by ADA - DAN AQUILANTE, NEW YORK POST

BILLBOARD OCTOBER 11, 1997 83 www.americanradiohistory.com