Yo-Yo Ma - Notes for the Future

Yo-Yo Ma is very easily one of the best chello players of all time. His ability to focus on every note shines clearly through the music.

Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's be honest. This is a pretty luke warm album. He has some great ideas here, but for me, they just aren't executed that well. The chello playing is rich and driven, while the singing is often sort of a warm fish resting on top.

Also...there isn't even that much chello. It sits in the background of sinths and voice. Which is nonsense because this is the chello players album. The album cover is very direct with you. Yo-Yo Ma is very small in this album. So it's fitting that he would be so small on the album cover.

The feeling is pretty groovy in these jams. The third number swings in with a "HOLY SHIT" and then the fourth song looses that momentum. Unfortunetelly, the album never regains momentum.

Savvy, snappy, little bit of digging in there. Nifty, just not able to hold onto the WOW factor.

Doable 5.5