Welcome to the EvO:R Independent CD Reviews Section.
I would like to take a few minutes to introduce ourselves to everyone. The EvO:R review section features reviews from various independent musicians that submit material for our consideration.

I wanted to let you know a little about our review teams collective thoughts on music. It's important to let the people that we review know how we think of their music and how we listened to their creations.

First of all, we strongly believe that if your music stinks then the world should know about it! After all, you have the nerve to charge as much for your stuff as the majors do so it better be pretty damn good. If your material is good, we'll be glad to tell the world. I We will hold nothing back! That is a promise.
The EvO:R CD Review Team

Let me start off with this: I try very hard to find something positive in all the music I review. JM bills himself as attempting to serve up smooth jazz. Unfortunately, for me I did not see it as such. His bio reads “JM Cruiz is from Tacoma, WA. & has been in the music scene there for many years! JM is a crafted rock/Blues & jazz artist.

After playing in various different rock bands, JM turned his attention to his other love, jazz, drenching himself in music from some very expressive, impressive, soulful and heart wrenching jazz artists like Steve Laury of FattBurger, Spyro Gyra, Avenue Blue, Chuck Loeb, Pat Metheny, Steely Dan, Santana, Wes Montgomery and any jazz artist that brought out deep emotion within him. “

Indeed the music on STREET DREAMS tries very hard, but to me, ends up sounding very 80’s programmed MUZAK. I‘m sorry, because, JM has some nice ideas, but the production quality here sounds like it is all demos. But having said that, one of the smooth jazz instrumentals "Ocean Drive" was up for song of the year award in 2005 on Radio Six International in Scotland, which illustrates that MY OPINON is jut that. It is just for me, the music has a certain sameness to each track. Being familiar with a well known studio jazz guitarist, I have a lot of that music of that style in my personal library.

Anyway, I will say this, MY favorite on this disk was DEDICATION. The song had that ‘Girl from Ipanema’ feel that I liked. JM’s CD provides no production information, in fact, if I did not go to his website, I would not have found out that this is of 2001 vintage. I don’t know what his more recent work sounds like. I would be willing to give it a go. This album WANTS to be good, and it misses the mark for me, only a little.

Conclusion:

I would suggest perhaps revisiting these tunes and some real drums, or at least real ‘sounding’ ones. Granted, this is an older release (2001) and JM has done 8 or 9 releases since this one so I suspect better things have come along. Much of the ‘life’ of the music was lost on me because of the drums. Also PLEASE provide more information on the product.
My score: 3 out of 10

Joel Pirard ...EvO:R Reviewer.

The EvO:R CD Reviews Home Page


Meet Joel Pirard

I would like to take a few minutes to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Joel Pirard and I am one of the new music reviewers here at Evor. I wanted to let you know a little about my thoughts on music. It's important to let the people that I review, think and listen to music.

I love to listen to great music from Independent artists. I'm very excited about how the indie community has generated such great music. I will say that if I don't like what I hear I will say so. At EvO:R, we are told to tell the truth and not to hold back. So here goes. I hope you enjoy the reviews.
Joel Pirard- staff reviewer

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