REVIEW: Gabriele Poso’s “Roots Of Soul”

Roots Of Soul (INFRA!Com) is an album that doesn’t define what soul is, but then again, maybe it does. By exploring its roots in sound, it shows that soul music as we know it comes from jazz, gospel, and various styles of music from South America and Africa. The migration and navigation of people and cultures lead to a need to find a common language, and many times that lead to the creation of collaboration of music. Perhaps this is what Gabriele Poso is trying explain with his new album.

Within this album you’ll hear community, people, companionship, survival, necessities, love, passion, and strength, and where you’ll hear it now, it continues to blossom. Some of these tracks, like “Dona Flor”, would sound fine on an NPR jazz show as it would on a smooth jazz show, and hearing the congas and cymbals may move you to dance or seek the hand of someone attractive and make you do the dance that’ll make you demand much more. The playing throughout this is superb, and when it’s all over, you’ll want to play it again. All roots have an origin, but these roots continue to grow. The ear and mind is the nourishment. Feed it well.