Product Description:
Personnel includes: Steve Winwood (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, clavinet, synthesizer, acoustic piano, organ, keyboards, clave, percussion); Jerry Hey (conductor, trumpet); Rebecca Mauleonb-Sanytana (piano); Des'ree (vocals); Jose Neto (acoustic & electric guitars); Nile Rodgers, Lenny Kravitz, Vernon "Ice" Black (guitar); Jimi Fischer (guitar, bass, drum programming); Mike McEvoy (dobro, synthesizer, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, bass, drum & keyboard programming, background vocals); Marc Russo (saxophone); Louis Fasman, Bill Ortiz (trumpet); Wayne Wallace (trombone), Narada Michael Walden (organ, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion, drum programming); Eugenia Winwood (background vocals).
Producers: Narada Michael Walden, Steve Winwood.
Recorded at Netherturkdonic Studios, Gloucestershire, England; Tarpan Studios, San Raphael, California; Le Crib, New York, New York; A&M Studios, Los Angeles, California.
Steve Winwood teams up with producer Narada Michael Walden, and the result is a fine, multi-textured disc. Winwood's calling card has always been his gritty, soulful voice, and he uses it to good effect on tunes like "Spy in the House of Love." The tune opens things up with a bang--it's an up-tempo, funky jam about falling under the influence of that powerful emotion.
The album continues with gospel-tinged ballads ("Angel of Mercy"), well-turned covers (Sly and the Family Stone's "Family Affair), and even a Cuban-inflected piece ("Got to Get Back to My Baby"). On the latter, Winwood employs some top-flight Cuban musicians, including percussionist Walfredo Reyes, and pianist, co-arranger Rebecca Mauleon-Santana. The tune is a real highlight, and defines some welcome new ground for Winwood -- he's come a long way from The Spencer Davis Group and "Gimme Some Lovin' ". All in all, a fine effort from an artist who keeps his musical gift well-tuned and his ear to the ground for new influences.
Entertainment Reviews:
Rolling Stone - 8/7/97, p.62
3 Stars (out of 5) - "...JUNCTION SEVEN may not be a surprise, but it's a thorough delight nonetheless."
Vibe - 8/97, p.146
"...JUNCTION SEVEN is a whimsical testament to blue-eyed--or in Winwood's case, brown-eyed--soul."
