Traxx from the Nile

Editorial Reviews

From URB Magazine
While it's usually Europeans like Basement Jaxx who are lauded for "saving" house music from its often formulaic 4/4 rhythm confines, the American Roy Davis Jr. has been keeping the beats most pliable for years now. His 1996 single "Gabriel" almost single-handedly evolved the Armand Van Helden-inspired British "speed garage" sound into two-step with its stuttered groove and heavenly vocals.

Davis continues to innovate on Traxx From the Nile, a collection of singles that emphasizes house music's far-reaching roots in soul, R&B and beyond. The salsa-meets-ragga opener "Watch Them Come" (retooled by Jazzanova) is a perfect introduction to the panoramic proceedings that follow. Keeping things live is the rule, as he opts to highlight instrumentation over sampling. His band, Soldiers of Universal Love, crank out rousing versions of older Davis tunes "Rock Shock" and "All 4 U," showcasing the common ground between old-school big bands like Earth, Wind and Fire and today's dance floor in the process.

Davis' distinction is more than merely stylistic; he soaks his music with spirit-lifting positivity and unapologetic paeans to his religious devotion. Songs like "Join His Kingdom," "There's a Place" and "Remember the Day" even find him stepping up to the mic to sing the lofty praises himself. Roy Davis Jr. perpetuates a continuum that stretches back to artists like Curtis Mayfield and Stevie Wonder - a strong alternative to the endlessly changing dance-floor flavors of the moment. The results are deep, dope and very, very good.

Scott Sterling

Traxx from the Nile,Jr. Roy Davis,Bombay Records,Club/Dance,Dance,Dance Music,House,Jazz-House,Pop
Traxx from the Nile
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Roy Davis Jr. another quality CD
  • ROY!
  • Not for beginners..
 Traxx from the Nile
Jr. Roy Davis
Manufacturer: Bombay Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
HouseHouse | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00005AX4J
Release Date: 2001-07-24

Tracks:

  1. Watch Them Come (Jazzanova Remixx)
  2. Join His Kingdom
  3. There's A Place
  4. About Love
  5. Got 2 Get 2 Heaven (Original Mix)
  6. Sweet As You
  7. Rock Shock (Live @ Chicago's Metro)
  8. Remember The Day
  9. All 4 U (Live @ Club Heaven)
  10. Watch Them Come

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Roy Davis Jr. another quality CD.......2003-10-21

A definite must for house music lovers! Roy Davis Jr. brings a fresh collection of soulful house music. Music with a positive message! His love for the music shows in his productions, "Sweet As You" is amazing along with "Join His Kingdom" & the Jazzanova remix of "Watch Them Come." Another Roy Davis Jr. favorite.

5 out of 5 stars ROY!.......2001-12-15

I disagree with many of the reviews of this album. My inital repsonse was similar to most people's, but then i realized something. People get too caught up in classifying music. Dont go into this looking for or expecting something. Sit back and let him show YOU something. If you know what you want to hear then its probably unorginal and has been done a million times before. Go find that specific sound somewhere else because Roy is here to do it his way. Dont try to label or categorize his music, just listen to it, it is great amazing relaxing music. If you want it to be an upbeat late night pounding house mix, youre buying the wrong CD. For true house fans this is a wonderful change of pace and very respectable, and one of a kind, Roy style. I expected this to be a mix, so when i discovered it wasnt, i was a bit discouraged. But when i got off that and just listened to it, i realized how good this CD truly is...KEEP IT UP ROY!

3 out of 5 stars Not for beginners.........2001-10-16

"Traxx From The Nile" is the fifth studio album for acclaimed Chicago garage/ deep house producer Roy Davis Jr. This disc is chock full of deep garage house beats, stumbling breakbeats, funky basslines, organic instrumentation and vocals mostly provided by Roy Davis Jr. himself, (who sings in an amusing Curtis Mayfield-esque falsetto). The problem here is that this album plummets into the trap that so many house producers have fallen into when they release full length albums: repetition. "Traxx from the Nile" is meant for a dancefloor, and not a living room. This album is a real toss-up as far as deep house music is concerned. There are very few "bad" tracks, but also, very few of the tracks truly shine on the grand scheme of things (the only one that really stands out is a Jazzanova remix of "Watch Them Come"). On the other hand, Roy Davis Jr. is a solid producer, who deserves the credit and the recognition that he's gotten over the years. "Traxx From The Nile" is certainly worth checking out if you're a diehard house head, but those who haven't immersed themselves in deep house music shouldn't bother picking this one up. Consistent at it's best, forgettable at it's worst.

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