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Our Review

A Cyber Jazz Holiday is a very likeable new holiday release by Gemini Soul, featuring the stylings of Ajamu Akinyele (drums and bass) and Jon O'Bergh (piano), who play in a groovy jazz style that won me over right away. Longtime readers know that I always look at jazz music with a certain suspicion: good jazz can be very, very good, but bad jazz is like fingernails screeching on a chalkboard for me. Fortunately, there is not a hint of fingernails on A Cyber Jazz Holiday.

Instead, Akinyele and O'Bergh perform an accessible and eclectic brand of improvisational, retro-jazz that manages to incorporate elements of ambient, trance, and hip hop music, as well. I particularly enjoyed Evergreen, where the well-known theme from O Christmas Tree was discussed, di-sected, and riffed. Improvisational jazz is really difficult to do well, but these fellows certainly have the knack.

This CD is long for an EP but a bit short of a full-length CD, coming in at only 8 tracks and 32 minutes. But I loved every minute of every track, and I still plan to listen to this after all of this season's reviews are done.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2005)

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From the liner notes:

Andre Marcel Ajamu Akinyele, vocals, drums and bass
Jon O'Bergh, piano

Written, produced,arranged and performed by Ajamu Akinyele (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4)
Produced and arranged by Andre Marcel Ajamu Akinyele and Jon O'Bergh (tracks 5, 6, 7)

Mixed and recorded at The Mallory Gallery and Timescape Music, San Francisco, California
Mastered at The Mallory Gallery, San Francisco, California
Manufactured and distributed by Pearl Jazz Recording Label

Gemini Soul f/ Ajamu Akinyele

A Cyber Jazz Holiday

Artist link

Track List