Shareefah C. Abdullah: Reviews

Picture yourself in the Caribbean sipping on an umbrella drink, getting a nice tan, feeling the warm breeze against your skin, smelling beautiful flowers and turquoise waters flow free. You can experience these sensations through music when Shareefah C. Abdullah takes you on this kind of trip with her debut self-released album On A Musical Journey.
Abdullah creates a mixture of smooth jazz filled with Latin grooves and vibrant melodies, arranged with high-strung bass chords, piano keys, luscious drum breaks and a do-it-yourself attitude that is eclectic and whimsical. Abdullah is also accompanied by Lucille Gaita on this album bringing her sense of soulful flavor to the musician's sharp quality.
"Remember How It Was" starts this album off with a mellow flow of synthesizers and horns streaming through each note with a creamy beauty; it's also notable to mention that the xylophone is trinkling throughout making this a playful song.
"Charlie's Butterflies" is just as fun with the combination of flute whistling through a beating of bongo drums in syncopation with vibes and saxophone creating this picture of spring is in the air.
Now you'll get a sense of Abdullah's creativity with Latin beats on "Sassy Salsa" as it embraces all of the flavors of Central America or The Caribbean with a combination of horns, percussion and piano rhythms fusing a laid-back approach to classic danceable harmonies.
Unlike "Sassy Salsa", "Midnight Dance In Ibiza" abandons the quick pace of horns and replaces it with Spanish guitar that flutters like a beautiful dove, but keeps Latin-influenced percussive beats and piano.
The rhythm picks up mid-sentence in "Midnight Dance In Ibiza" as light piano keys and horns slightly hue the tones making this a romantic experience.
This is contemporary jazz at its best coming from a talented composer such as Shareefah. Unlike most contemporary jazz artists, Shareefah C. Abdullah shys away from covering the usual standards, but honors the jazz standard style with accentuating her roots and making it seem more modern and relaxed.
On A Musical Journey is an aptly-named title for this album, as it takes us on a journey into different landscapes and imaginative views from each note.

"Great album...love it"
“Remember how it was” is a great track. It really incorporates a number of great musical techniques and explores a broad use of instrumentation. This would probably be one of my favourite tracks from the album.
“Sassy Salsa” is an incredibly danceable track with a Latin salsa groove. Nearly had me dancing on a few occasions…pleasure to listen to.
“Baby come home” takes the fast groove from the previous tracks down to a slow dance groove which retains the quality of the artists work…makes real good listening.
Try this album you’ll be surprised…how you may come to like it. For one thing this kind of music doesn’t usually appeal to me but Shareefah has certainly changed that.

Shareefah writes solo adult contemporary and new age funky jazz fusions that will delight the heart and mind alike. Her compositions are bouncy and light allowing the shiny elements of hip funk to perpetuate the mix, creating a unique flow.

Shareefah is a refreshing new artist whom other musicians appreciate. I love her ideas. She thinks and creates outside the box, so there are pleasant surprises in her compositions. She did an excellent job on the production as well. Her music moves and inspires me.

Shareefah’s album is an incalculably skilled transcendental odyssey. All songs in this unique CD were composed, arranged, performed and produced by Shareefah. Noteworthy: Each piece is a multifarious musical experience including Latin Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, R & B & New Age fusion. The compositions will transport the listener to wonderful musical worlds offering the discovery and experience of positive meditative energy, peaceful realms of relaxation, blessings and enlightenment.

Liner Notes: On this her debut album, Shareefah has done a marvelous job of capturing the flavors of an array of musical styles, from extravagant Latin rhythms to hip Contemporary Jazz and celestial New Age tracks. There is purity about this music with its sweet melodies and smooth arrangements. It's exciting, yet mellow and peaceful; an extremely pleasurable listening experience.

An impressive first outing for this new talent. The collection of original works created a mood that carried me into a state of peaceful meditation.A little creative lighting and it was midnight in Ibiza at some enchanting cafe. This makes a wonderful addition to my New Age/Cool Jazz collection. I would be amiss if I didn't mention the outstanding craftmanship in the production of this CD. Top of the line!

Shareefah's On A Musical Journey is a unique listening experience! "Remember How It Was", "Baby, Come Home!" and other well composed tunes are enjoyable music to soothe the soul!

For an easy, kick-off-your-shoes, relax and unwind listening experience, this CD has it all, from the enchanting "Charlie's Butterflies" to the exotic "Midnight Dance in Ibiza" and other catchy tunes. Shareefah: On A Musical Journey will take you along on an ocean breeze of listening delight!

This is a very nice arrangement of songs. Shareefah has done a very good job of making her listeners lose themselves in her arrangements. Makes you feel as if you were on a pleasurable journey in your own living room.

I lost my dear son Yusef to a car accident on Friday, Jumah, 9/26/03; he was buried on Friday, Jumah 10/3/03. I discovered the beautiful sound of Shareefah on Friday, Jumah, 10/31/03. I expect to hear songs from this CD on radio station CD101.9 along with other stations!

Inspirational. An all around great album. I love it.