Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Featured Artist: Dwight Sirls
CD Title: The Human Complexity
Year: 2005
Record Label: Japoonoonie Records
Style: Smooth Jazz
Musicians: Dwight Sirls (six-, five-, and four-string bass, electric and classical guitars, synthesizers and other keyboards, electronic percussion, drum sample manipulation), Kyle Stroud (saxophone on "La Vida")
Review:
This is an impressive collection of melody-rich tunes and smooth R&B rhythms from a multi-talented artist who plays all of the instruments on the CD, except for the sax (Kyle Stroud) on his last piece, “La Vida.” He also engineered and mixed the whole thing. Do you think he was a little busy here? Well, in this writer’s opinion, it paid off.
The CD is heavily-laden with serious professional skill. At first glance, the title of the opening tune, “UFOs,” gave me pause, as I expected some “out there” sound effects and disconnected, elusive melody. Quite the contrary. While, initially, the synthesizer strikes you as having a bit of a thick and robotic effect, Sirls quickly hauls the tune into a slinky, funky acid jazz perspective, complete with bright horns. This piece quickly establishes him as a very competent bassist (which appears to be his primary instrument of choice).
His clever use of the reverb effect on bass in track 3, the lively “Gray St.,” adds a cool dimension. He also plays an adequate classical guitar on track 5, “Enlighten,” and he definitely knows how to pour on the funk. Track 7, “Indigo,” and the very upbeat track 8, “Louella Symphony” (now, this is my kind of symphony!) are probably the best indications of that.
Part of Dwight Sirls’s bio reads: “Dwight feels strongly about music being the primary conduit of expression.” This CD makes a pretty strong argument for that concept. I’d love to see this guy live (with a full band, of course). He sounds like he might be a really fun and refreshing experience.
Tracks: UFOs, Human Complexity, Gray St., A Cold World, Enlighten, Revolution, Indigo, Louella Symphony, Groove Interlude, La Vida
Artist's Website: http://www.dwightsirls.com
Reviewed by: Ronald Jackson
Copyright© 2006 JazzReview.com®. All Rights Reserved. - Jazzreview.com
Intriguing is the first word that comes to mind to describe multi-instrumentalist Dwight Sirls’ new project, THE HUMAN COMPLEXITY. Intriguing, at times other-worldly, always compelling. In a word, “noonie.” “What’s that mean?” you ask? Well, “noonie” is a word Dwight invented as a child… A word that can mean anything extreme on the emotional scale, from love to hate... Trust me; it’s the love end of the scale we’re talking about here. THE HUMAN COMPLEXITY is an amazing musical excursion into the deep recesses of Dwight’s mind. He plays all instruments (basses, guitars, keyboards) on this disc except for the percussion samples, and the sax lead on the track “La Vida,” which features Kyle Stroud. A hard life growing up under the Northeast Texas sun, an unwavering tenaciousness, and an innate creativity from early on… All form the genesis of this album’s music. This is not music just to listen to, it’s music to be experienced, because when you pay attention, you get the meaning he’s carefully woven into every track. The ones that stand out for me are “Gray Street,” a tough street in the poor Longview, Texas neighborhood where Dwight’s first home was located; “Enlighten,” with an optimistic vibe about searching for an understanding of this universe and beyond; “Indigo,” inspired by his departed mother’s spiritual voice and guidance; and “Groove Interlude,” a gentle, lyrical ode to the wonder of life and existence. Dwight Sirls’ THE HUMAN COMPLEXITY is a fascinating journey… One I recommend you take soon ~SCOTT O'BRIEN Scott - Smoothjazz.com/Scott O'Brien
Discography
1." You're The One" 1986 featuring Ron Daniels/Composer, Musician/Single
2." Living For You" 1986 featuring Ron Daniels/Composer, Musician/Single
3. Velyncia Sirls "The Art of Love" 1995/Engineer, Producer, Musician,Composer/Complete Cassette
4. Finn (Fenis Daniel) "Life is Like" 1997/Engineer, bass & classical guitar solos/Complete CD
5. First Kin "Due Seasons" 2004/Engineer, on two tracks, Producer, Musician/Complete CD
6. Dwight Sirls "The Human Complexity" 2005/Engineer, Producer, Composer, Musician/Complete CD
7. Dwight Sirls "Purpose" 2006
Musician, Engineer, Producer, Composer/Complete CD
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Nu-Jazz Artist Connects Ancient Influence
To His Music
East Texas native and rising Nu-Jazz artist Dwight Sirls believes the key to his creativity is the experiences of his ancestors that's deeply embedded in his genes. His current CD "Purpose" is a direct tap into this creative pool. Dwight feels that making this connection may help him understand not just his existence, but that of all mankind.
"Purpose" is eleven tracks weaving together the pieces that make-up Dwight's existence. His ancestral guidance harnesses his contemporary style of music to convey visions and passions that are a part of his being, and possiby to help others discover the denizens of their soul and conscious. His compelling and passionate lead bass performances illustrates the emotions of his ancestral experiences. "With each project, I'm learning more and more about myself," states Dwight. Dwight also states that this is just a belief, resulting from experiences. "My utmost belief is that beliefs are fragile, new information and modified thoughts can alter or totally erase beliefs", said Dwight.
All the tracks on "Purpose" were composed, engineered, performed, and mixed by Dwight at his private project studio in Tyler, Texas. Dwight's first solo CD "The Human Complexity" brought him into the smoothjazz community, especially with the airplay he received on www.smoothjazz.com. Tracks from the first CD can still be heard there and on other internet radio communities. He has made fans in Asia, Europe, Canada, and several U.S. states. Both CDs were released on Dwight's label, Japoonoonie Records.
For further information about Dwight Sirls go to www.dwightsirls.com or www.myspace.com/dwightsirls.
Dwight Sirls is a self-taught musician and engineer. He began his musical life playing bass in local groups, but by the 1990s Dwight was more at home in his studio. He became interested in engineering in 1981, but became more interested in 1986 while working on his first release, the singles "Living For You" and "You're The One". His interests in engineering became more serious by 1992.
Dwight's full length projects are " The Art of Love" by Velyncia & Dwight Sirls 1995, "Life Is Like" by Fenis Daniel 1997, "Due Seasons" by First Kin 2004, "The Human Complexity" by Dwight Sirls 2005 and "Purpose" by Dwight Sirls 2006.
Dwight has been a composer and publisher with BMI music for around 20 years and plays seven instruments. Dwight is beginning the promotion of his second solo release "Purpose". This project dives into the mystical world of his ancestral past, then transforms the visions and passions into his signature style of conceptual groove Nu-jazz.
Dwight still believes in music as a pure art for the people, a passion he had back in 1988 when he was chosen member of the year by the Longview, Texas Metro Chamber of Commerce for a musical and cultural event he organized and spearheaded.
Dwight founded his own label, Japoonoonie Records, in 1986. Three full length projects have been released under this label. His publishing arm is Sirls & Brothers Music BMI.
Links
