Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Language available : english
Billed somewhat misleadingly as "Blaze Presents the James Toney Jr. Project," Natural Blaze isn't the result of Josh Milan and Kevin Hedge hooking up with yet another new talent; instead, the billing pays tribute to a dear music-loving friend of the duo who passed away prior to the album's release. Due to the sparse credits on the sleeve, one can only infer that the album is primarily -- or strictly -- the work of Milan and Hedge. Only the most devoted Blaze freak could have predicted that this full-length would have so many elements to it. Natural Blaze, more than any other Blaze work, exemplifies the duo's well-studied mastery of several styles. With the house foundation a given, Milan and Hedge seamlessly integrate disco, jazz, gospel, samba, soul, and Afro-beat into their bold, crisp productions. Their syntheses are as natural as one can imagine. Breezy instrumentals and a trio of spoken-word pieces dot the album, full of horn punches, piano tickles, keyboard warps, guitar spangles, and Latin percussion. Two vocal tracks, "How Deep Is Your Love" and "Better Days," rate with the very best the duo has produced. The former is particularly heavenly, with a brisk tempo played out by some ultra-tight programming and some very sweet vocal arrangements. As with most other Blaze releases, listeners will either feel uplifted and purified or bored to tears. Blaze is always very respectful to its influences -- Earth, Wind & Fire, George Duke, the jazzier end of Loft classics -- and, as modern as they sound, have trouble relating to the younger dance music fans who aren't all that open-minded. Regardless of opinion, it is an undeniable fact that Blaze has the market cornered on accomplished, immaculately crafted house music with a positive edge. Natural Blaze is further evidence of that.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From 12,49€/month
Kevin Hedge, Composer, Writer - Josh Milan, Composer, Writer - BLAZE, MainArtist - James Toney Jr. Project, MainArtist
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide
Kevin Hedge, Composer, Writer - Josh Milan, Composer, Writer - BLAZE, MainArtist - James Toney Jr. Project, MainArtist
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide
Kevin Hedge, Composer, Writer - Josh Milan, Composer, Writer - BLAZE, MainArtist - James Toney Jr. Project, MainArtist
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide
Kevin Hedge, Composer, Writer - Josh Milan, Composer, Writer - BLAZE, MainArtist - James Toney Jr. Project, MainArtist
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide
Kevin Hedge, Composer - Josh Milan, Composer - BLAZE, MainArtist - James Toney Jr. Project, MainArtist
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide
Kevin Hedge, Composer, Writer - Josh Milan, Composer, Writer - BLAZE, MainArtist
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2000 Blaze imprints
BLAZE, MainArtist - James Toney Jr. Project, MainArtist
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide
Kevin Hedge, Composer, Writer - Josh Milan, Composer, Writer - BLAZE, MainArtist - James Toney Jr. Project, MainArtist
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide
Kevin Hedge, Composer, Writer - Josh Milan, Composer, Writer - BLAZE, MainArtist - James Toney Jr. Project, MainArtist
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide
Albumbeschreibung
Billed somewhat misleadingly as "Blaze Presents the James Toney Jr. Project," Natural Blaze isn't the result of Josh Milan and Kevin Hedge hooking up with yet another new talent; instead, the billing pays tribute to a dear music-loving friend of the duo who passed away prior to the album's release. Due to the sparse credits on the sleeve, one can only infer that the album is primarily -- or strictly -- the work of Milan and Hedge. Only the most devoted Blaze freak could have predicted that this full-length would have so many elements to it. Natural Blaze, more than any other Blaze work, exemplifies the duo's well-studied mastery of several styles. With the house foundation a given, Milan and Hedge seamlessly integrate disco, jazz, gospel, samba, soul, and Afro-beat into their bold, crisp productions. Their syntheses are as natural as one can imagine. Breezy instrumentals and a trio of spoken-word pieces dot the album, full of horn punches, piano tickles, keyboard warps, guitar spangles, and Latin percussion. Two vocal tracks, "How Deep Is Your Love" and "Better Days," rate with the very best the duo has produced. The former is particularly heavenly, with a brisk tempo played out by some ultra-tight programming and some very sweet vocal arrangements. As with most other Blaze releases, listeners will either feel uplifted and purified or bored to tears. Blaze is always very respectful to its influences -- Earth, Wind & Fire, George Duke, the jazzier end of Loft classics -- and, as modern as they sound, have trouble relating to the younger dance music fans who aren't all that open-minded. Regardless of opinion, it is an undeniable fact that Blaze has the market cornered on accomplished, immaculately crafted house music with a positive edge. Natural Blaze is further evidence of that.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:58:52
- Main artists: Blaze James Toney Jr. Project
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Slip 'N' Slide
- Genre: Electronic House
© 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide ℗ 2001 Defected Records dba Slip 'n' Slide
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.