Jean-Pierre Simons

The multi-cultural and multi-dimensional artist known as Jean-Pierre Simons brings us one diverse piece of work. The title track “Sentimentally…To Africa” brings it all back to Simons’ roots as a young man growing up in Cameroon. He says during the song, “Everything is bringing me back to Africa” and you really feel his passion and love for his homeland. This singer/songwriter has a lot to offer on this record such as: six songs sung in English and seven in French. Simons has also lived in Paris for part of his life and now presides in Oakland, California. Living in different parts of the world and being able to experience and live by so many cultures makes Jean-Pierre a unique musician.

The record resonates with an abundance of sound and styles. You hear African, Latin, European, American and even island-sounding sections throughout the album. The record is full of color and life along with such a worldly touch to it all. Jean-Pierre is pretty much taking you on a journey throughout the world by way of his music. The overall effect is just a lively and vibrant feel that will take over your senses. The joy and passion that Simons sings with is taken in loud and clear. You actually hear a fun and upbeat spirit that is being evoked by Jean-Pierre Simons. The end result= feeling of happiness, enjoyment and satisfaction by way of the powerful and yet positive messages being portrayed.

I can’t overlook the incredible backing instrumentalists along with the tremendous rhythm and horn sections. The heart and soul of this album is the Afro-Pop and rhythmic sensation known as Makossa-Funk. The musicianship and arrangements are just spot on and seriously leave a good taste in your mouth. Simons and the entire band section come together like John, Paul, Ringo and George. The Cameroon native and his accompanying band-mates offer something special on Sentimentally…To Africa. The special formula works and is able to cross cultural boundaries by way of music.

The only drawback is the fact that seven tracks are sung in French. Being as I don’t speak French, it was hard for me to grasp the true meaning behind each song. Honestly though, the entire feel and sound of the record made up for that fact. Simons’ soul was heard in a big way, no matter what language it may have been in.

For more on Jean-Pierre Simons and Sentimentally…To Africa, SKOPE out www.jeanpierresimons.com.

By Jimmy Rae - SKOPE

Sentimentally…
to Africa
Jean-Pierre Simons

Available from CD Baby.

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
by Mark S. Tucker
(progdawg@hotmail.com).

Jean-Pierre Simons hails from Cameroon, and the native rhythms there are quite dissimilar to Western tradition, as is much of the continent's musical tradition, yet exceedingly infectious. Paul Simon found that out and incorporated African staples and colorations into a segment of his work, finding a wide audience for the fusion. Not long after, Peter Gabriel, departing the prog realms, dove into heady waters and began heavily working with upper and lower African (and surrounding areas) sonorities, gathering to himself much more legitimate world essences than the New Age movement had been able to provide, an effort that proved providential.

Simons turns this all around and starts from Africa, working outwards, incorporating the jazz of that continent and this along with pop, latin styles, and rock. The base, though, is always African in its rhythmic fundament. A number of the songs are sung in French, and the appearances of Ron Leewarde and James Robinson, despite the somewhat innocuous accreditation of 'lead guitar' and 'classical guitar', play very well, the latter especially, in fusions that will have Al DiMeola scampering around delightedly, keeping up with runs that are shockingly adept.

Harmony is the keynote to Sentimentally and much of this CD comes off gratifyingly akin to a Putumayo label release, reggae peeking in here, soul there, everything engineered to please ear, spirit, and emotion. Polyrhythms abound and Simons' voice is not far removed from Al Jarreau's (minus all the wonderful scat Al uses), Kenny Loggins', or Stevie Wonder's, nor are the songs unaligned with the same positivity and uplifting regards. And, just like Kenny, Stevie, and Al, this is material to uplevel the moribundity of the charts. One can only hope, then, that this guy achieves rapid success because I'd like to have a few more reasons to turn on music radio.
Track List:

* Sentimentally…to Africa
* Take my Love
* Un Amour Impossible
* Baobab-Tree
* Change in my Life
* Ballade Pur Une Fleur



* On Danse
* Laisse-Moi T'Aimer
* Una Place au Soliel
* Like a Friend
* Aime-Moi
* Candlelight

All songs written by Jean-Pul Simons except Aim-Moi (Simons / Mosquea).

Edited by: David N. Pyles
(dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)

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Copyright 2009, Peterborough Folk Music Society.
This review may be reprinted with prior permission and attribution.
- Fame Review

Jean-Pierre Simons - Sentimentally.... To Africa
2009, Jean-Pierre Simons

Jean-Pierre Simons is a citizen of the world, quite literally. Born in Cameroon, Simons lived in Paris for a number of years before settling in the San Francisco Bay area of California. His music encompasses African, Latin and European musical styles with a strong emphasis on classic American Pop music. His debut album, Sentimentally... To Africa, features 6 songs in English and 7 and French, all highly listenable and enjoyable. Simons has a sense of melody and rhythm that is impeccable, and a top-notch band backing him up. The result is an album you won't want to put away.

Sentimentally... To Africa opens with the title track, sounding like something that might have been a Paul Simon outtake from his Graceland sessions. Simons creates a very similar Pop/Rock/African traditional hybrid sound throughout much of the album. Take My Love is a great love song in the same vein, a highly infectious bit of pop music with African rhythms, horns and the electric guitar sound common to Simons albums of that era. Aime-Moi (Love Me) and Un Amour Impossible (An Impossible Love) are the first two French language songs on the album, both staying well ensconced in pop style with the essential African flavor that runs through the album. Une Place Au Soleil (A Place In The Sun) features some the best overall arrangement on the album, layering acoustic sounds in a song that touches on Pop, World and Jazz without quite giving in to any one style. My favorite song on the disc is Baobab-Tree, which will have you up and moving you feet even if you're not prone to dancing. Other highlights include Change In My Life, On Danse and Like A Friend.

Jean-Pierre Simons has the perfect blend of Pop and World styles on Sentimentally... To Africa. If it weren't for that Paul Simon guy we'd be talking about Simons' groundbreaking mix of styles, as it is its still a fine album that is highly accessible and commercial without trying to be either. This is feel good music you can move to, and no matter what language Simons is singing in, that feel good vibe is universal. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jean-Pierre Simons at http://www.jeanpierresimons.com/ or http://www.sighes.com/. You can purchase a copy of Sentimentally… To Africa at www.cdbaby.com/cd/jeanpierre2. - Wildy's World

Posted by James on February 13th, 2009 No Comments Printer-Friendly
The title track to “Sentimentally…To Africa” begins off this album, and one is immediately hit with a rich collage of artists as storied as UB40 and Paul Simon. Simons himself is more eclectic than either act, marrying together African with Caribbean rhythms, while tying the resulting music with pop sensibilities that will ensure that fans of current music will find something that they can love on “Sentimentally…To Africa”. “Take My Love” starts out with Simons’ vocals taking an authoritative place at the front of the track; the rapidly-shifting nature of the track ensures that listeners will be unsure where exactly Simons is set to go.

“Sentimentally…To Africa” is a disc that, despite only having 13 tracks, goes to hundreds of different time frames, interacts with countless styles and genres, and with each track, informs listeners about the unique type of music that is Simons’ trademark. “Un Amour Impossible” has a hot set of horns that cut in at all the right time, interjecting a drive to a track that would otherwise seem perfectly content in its meandering nature. “Candlelight” shares the same chill, calm sound as the early reaches of “Un Amour Impossible”, building further the story previously laid out by the preceding tracks on “Sentimentally…To Africa” . Listeners need not speak French to get a good idea about what Simons wants them to take from a track; the rich vocals are varied enough to imbue a narrative upon anyone lucky enough to listen in.

“Sentimentally…To Africa” ends with “Mes Adieux”, a slow, emotive missive to all of Simons listeners. The instrumentations, despite taking a very light touch on the track, nonetheless come up with a dense and substantive effort that joins together with Simons’ vocals to make something truly special. With so many different things occurring during the 13 cuts of “Sentimentally…To Africa” , listeners should really give the disc a few listeners before getting the entirety of what Simons has laid down here. What listeners will understand even after listening to one track, however, is that Simons is one of the best performers in any genre that he decides to pick up.

Top Tracks: Une Place Au Soleil, Aime-moi

Rating: 8.6/10

Jean-Pierre Simons – Sentimentally…To Africa / 2009 Self / 13 Tracks / http://www.jeanpierresimons.com

- Neufutur Magazine

Sentimentally...To Africa is exuberant and ebullient, almost a religious devotional to life, friends, loves and a country. It's an AfroPop French-Caribbean beach party from Cameroon-born Jean-Pierre Simons. Bring your own boat drink. Simons, and drummer-producer Jojo Kuo (Peter Gabriel, Harry Belafonte), pair African melodies and rhythms with Continental arrangements for a bright, brassy and accessible World Music album. Simons, who now resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, draws from Makossa, which is a vibrant style blending funk, jazz, Latin, Cameroon folk (ambasse bey), and African rumba (soukous). More than half the songs are in French, but you don't need to know the language to translate the emotional energy—even a eulogy like "Mes Adieux" is more of a celebration than a lament. One challenge—my copy of Sentimentally...To Africa lists the tracks out of order, though I see it has been mostly fixed on Amazon. There's plenty to enjoy on Sentimentally, starting with the title track. "Change in My Life" celebrates the possibilities for change; "Like A Friend" entertains the dream of universal love; "Baobab-Tree" celebrates the land. "Un Amour Impossible" sounds terrifically upbeat, even though my Frenglish interprets an opposing possibility. "Laisse-Moi T'Aimer" is a joy, though it could be about buying a magical washing machine for all I know. "On Danse" is a bit formal, but "Aime-Moi" and "Candlelight" are soothing. Sentimentally...To Africa is a mini-vacation, a temporary tonic to office politics. - Caught In The Carousel