Reviews
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Charlie Harrelson - EVOR
Once in a while we all need to take a break from our world and take a journey into someone else's. Joe Holiday has opened up the road to his musical mind and allowed us to peek in. It's well worth having a look around.......
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Jon Neudorf -
Sea of Tranquility
Strength and Kindness is a solid debut album from a band that plays together exceptionally well. For a melodic contemporary jazz album there is much here to get excited about......
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Barry Thomas - Vents Magazine
Musical energy and the exchange between audience and a song or band can be such a crucial lifeblood for a composer gathered in the name of fulfilling exhilarating music for music fans. Some of this applies to melodic Jazz absence of vocals. Some of it a combination of the two. San Francisco based Jazz Project entitled Strength and Kindness just released an epic 10 tracks set that goes by the name of “Somebody Else’s Nightmare.” Band leader, chief composer and band leader Joe Holiday seems to have a firm hold on making a connection with listeners and extolling positive energy through this music. This breathtaking debut release has credits as long as my arm. The end result is a delightful.....
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Seamus for Thunder Row
This album, by Joe Holiday and Somebody Else’s Nightmare, is - in a nutshell - damn fine music. It’s Jazz for sure, but the overall flavour is so much more. Parts of it are vintage, a real trip into the past; other parts are fresh and modern, leaning toward Pop and R&B. The entire collection is playful and deliciously indulgent. The title itself speaks of setting one aspect against the counterpart to give it meaning. Kindness is tempered with strength so as not to be exploited, and strength is tempered with kindness so as not to be cruel. It makes for a listening experience that takes you to both sides.
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Alex Henderson
Somebody Else’s Nightmare sounds like the name of a band that offers some type of very loud, edgy, brash, in-your-face rock: perhaps metal, perhaps industrial, perhaps punk, perhaps grunge. But the Sonoma, California-based Somebody Else’s Nightmare don’t sound anything like that. Strength and Kindness is not an album that is easy to pin down stylistically: this 52-minute CD doesn’t fit neatly into one particular category. But if one had to have a brief description of what it is that they do, the most appropriate would be “an appealing mixture of fusion, post-bop, soft rock, adult contemporary and soul-jazz.” A variety of direct or indirect influences assert themselves on this 2014 release, from Spyro Gyra, the Yellowjackets and McCoy Tyner to Paul Simon, Steely Dan and Michael Franks. On the vocal offerings (which include “Destination Nowhere” and the melancholy “Lonely Town”), it is clear that they appreciate the hipper, more creative side of 1970s/early 1980s soft rock and adult contemporary. “The Light Will Show the Way,” another vocal tune, combines jazzy alternative rap along the lines of Digable Planets, the Roots or Kuf Knotz with hints of vibist/singer Roy Ayers’ late 1970s/early 1980s recordings (which makes sense because many alternative rappers have sampled Ayers)
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Cyrus Rhodes - Indie Music Digest
The CD kicks things off with “Destination Nowhere” a beautiful and vibrant intro piece that serves up dynamic rhythm section, melodic jazz ambience and smooth as silk Saxophone solo, sporadic percussive accents meshed against inviting vocal delivery from Holiday. Track 2 “Yard Full of Joes” is a breathtaking follow up statement that serves up funky musical flow, impressive rhythm guitar, meshed against more honey coated Saxophone. I especially like the musical finale on this piece very compatible with the vibe. Track 3 “Worker Bees” serves up full tilt rhythm section and mesmerizing musical flow coupled with heartfelt vocal delivery from Holiday that flows and ebbs its way through to emotional fruition. The music itself has a jazz vibe reminiscent of classic vocal Jazz like Candy Dulfer, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Toto, Van Morrison and Chicago. I can also hear traces of classic Miles Davis, Grover Washington, Joe Sample, Fourplay, David Sanborn and Richard Elliot. As this CD slowly unfolds....
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Thom Yost- Skope Magazine
...the more you are emotionally in-tune with this message and music, the more powerful his lament will become. I find myself more intrigued by this concept, although the concept by itself is at best a loose thing that is hard to pinpoint. In other words you have to be in the mood to fully grasp this record thus maximizing the impact. When I eventually got to that emotional place some of the songs became overwhelming. Holiday’s songs have punch, variety and emotive impact compatible with reality – and this is the beauty of the title and concept that is “Somebody’ Else’s Nightmare”...
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by by Seth Ridgway - Indie Music Reviews
“Somebody Else’s Nightmare” by Joe Holiday and the gang wraps up a well-rounded 10 track line-up that delivers an interesting cross section of Smooth Jazz, Funk, Blues and even a dash of Big City Jazz & Fusion. Once again – despite this it is accessible to modern day radio listeners as well. How is this possible? Only an experienced artist armed with an honest, genuine, sincere approach like Holiday can pull it off. Joe Holiday is a respectable singer as well. I know I said it before but Holiday is backed up by some solid players who are capable of a whole lot more outside this marketable format. Armed with solid production instincts, a sincere writer’s touch and a soulful gift for playing/singing/writing Parma proves once he’s a force to be reckoned with in this infectious musical realm.
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by The Grouch - Grouchygaijin Music Blog
This is a remarkably well made album by a group of very talented musicians. My personal favorite track on the album is: Yard Full of Joes - first of all the drummer lays down a funky beat that is just odd enough to be confusing, but not so out there as to make my brain hurt. Secondly the bass is just bad ass - then the horns come in and honest to God it blows my mind - I find myself grooving to what they are doing with a goofy smile on my face.
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Dan MacIntosh
Fortuitously, and also quite truthfully, CDbaby.com mentions Zawinul in its ‘Recommended if You Like’ section under Somebody Else’s Nightmare because a track called “Worker Bees” features a great Jaco Pastorius-like bass line – much like the sort he used to regularly contribute to the band Weather Report. (This, of course, was a Zawinul-led act). Strength and Kindness is a solid collection of jazz-fusion songs.
You usually think of electronic instrumentation when considering jazz-fusion music. However, this album’s title cut begins with an acoustic bass line, which is later joined by drums, then saxophone and piano. It’s a swinging, straight ahead jazz tune and quite likeable.
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Alice Neiley
Real instruments! Funk/Jazz fusion! Miles-style-post-bop! Oh my!
Strength and Kindness, a versatile, multi-genre album by California based band, Someone Else’s Nightmare, embodies its title perfectly—the nuanced differences between strength and kindness, but also how the two traits, and more generally, all of our human idiosyncrasies can blend together and illuminate each other. This mostly instrumental album doesn’t box itself into any corner, and instead, invites everyone into the middle of the room to dance. I can’t think of a universe where this band, or this album, would be anyone’s nightmare. From jazz to funk to bop, from profound lyric to call and response instrumental improvisation, there’s bound to be at least one part of this album that is, instead, of everyone’s dreams.
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Brings Joe Holiday To The Forefront Of Jazz Music
JP'S Music Blog
Session musician Joe Holiday has finally released his first album under the band name, Somebody Else's Nightmare. The album brings together many of Joe's influences of working with a number of different artists including Eddie Harris and Paul Horn. The music can be described a "jazz fusion" as he brings in elements of rock and rhythm & blues to showcase his love for many different types of music.
The new ten song release begins with smooth flow of Adam Mix's sax against Joe's warming vocals in "Destination Nowhere." The instrumental "Yard Full Of Joes" has a modern swing feel as the underlying rhythm becomes very addictive.The music that Somebody Else's Nightmare delivers in "Working Bees" is bright and energetic and is placed well on the album as you are beginning to settle into Joe's musical world. Joe and his band like to expand their horizons, introducing the new sounds of "The Light Will Show The Way" and "Snake Hair" which seem out of place alongside the other great jazz songs like the mellowness of "Drones" and the up-tempo album closer "Again Dawn." To find out more about Somebody Else's Nightmare and their new album "Strength And Kindness," please visit senightmare.com.
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Strength And Kindness
Review by Music Emissions
The spirituality evident on the "Light Will Show the Way" is admirable and refreshing. The lyrics are family friendly. This is an asset, which doesn't get enough attention these days. The music does make it's way into fun territory often enough. It may not qualify as dance music, yet it gets you out of your chair all the same. There's a sense of spiritual fulfillment coming through the tracks.
Somebody Else’s Nightmare
Review by Sylvia Crawford
Sonoma Index Tribune
Jazzy music charms local dogs
Meanwhile, I've been entertained lately listening to the group Somebody Else's Nightmare's new CD, "Strength and Kindness" by Joe Holiday and friends. Joe wrote all the songs, . arranged the music and produced the album. It's a jazzy, easy-listening album that provides just the Autumnal background I need to keep my thoughts from drifting too far afield.
Mini Reviews
JAZZ FOR THE NEW WORLD
SOMEBODY ELSE'S NIGHTMARE
Chris Spector - Midwest Records
Strength and Kindness: Veteran bass player moves to Sonoma, gets some new pals and finally steps out for the shadows for his long overdue solo debut. Easy going jazz with nothing to prove and no chip on it's shoulder, leader Joe Holiday does a nice job on the transition from the back of the stage to the front. Certainly this is only a hint of the interesting things to come.
http://www.midwestrecord.com/MWR882.html
Deep In the Music
Review
Joe Holiday: Strength and Kindness (Somebody Else’s Nightmare, 2014). A smooth jazz vocal record with fusion keyboards, electric bass, and a dual horn attack. Smoother than a baby’s bottom, the drums are funkier rather than free — the second tune could easily be the theme song to a 70’s television show while the third is more an uptempo fusion-y number.
http://deepinthemusic.wordpress.com/2014/11/07/active-music-listening-friday-november-7-2014/
Download the title track Strength and Kindness at Jammerzine
http://jammerzine.com/daily-dose-sen-strength-and-kindness/
M.Tropolis
http://m-etropolis.com/blog/joe-holiday-somebody-elses-nightmare-strength-and-kindness/
