Patrick Charles Makandal Group

Patrick Charles is a young, energetic drummer/writer with a clear vision of the diverse workings of jazz/funk and other such pairings.
Cite Soleil is more than just a refreshingly unique “mover” in many distinctive ways, it’s also an attitude. You get that from the beginning. This young man is on a mission to make a bold statement. Charles collaborates nicely with Johnny Britt (who co-penned a couple of cuts, as well as contributes keys on the first track) on trumpet, Kevin Toney on piano and Rhodes, and Wayne Linsey ..s and Rhodes. Saxman Everette Harp and guitarist Freddie Fox also put in shining guest appearances.
There is actually quite a myriad of styles, melodies, tempos, and general feels to simply sit back and enjoy on this well-constructed album. In my personal opinion, one of the coolest things about the album is the transition from track 5 to track 7. All three tunes paint vastly different pictures, all vivid, yet very unique unto themselves. Not a necessarily unique technique, of course, but one has to hear these tunes to see what material is involved in this particular transition. Track 5, the title track , is a very island-flavored cut that just lazily, yet oh-so-melodically, sings and strolls along to track 6, Seal’s “Crazy,” where the tone and tempo pick up to a snappy guitar-rich stride. This neatly takes us to a mid-tempo R&B-like groove, “Breathe,” featuring the artistry of Kevin Toney (it truly does have that Toney feel). Brilliant choice of tune placement. It just makes the transition such a natural and fluid one. As if to add icing to that cake, we get the smooth sax of Everette Harp on track 8’s “When the Love is Gone,” a tune custom-made for the hauntingly sweet and soulful alto sax of Harp.
Patrick Charles certainly does no harm whatsoever to his career here. The young man would do well to use Cite Soleil as his barometer for future ventures. A more trustworthy measuring tool may be hard to find. - Jazzreview.com

Take off your shoes and relax. “Cité Soleil” by Patrick Charles is a smooth jazz CD with an appealing Caribbean flair.
The music on the CD is nicely composed, and nicely showcases Patrick’s outstanding drumming as well as the talents of the other first-rate jazz musicians on the CD. Thru recording quality and production provide a high quality, clear jazz recording. Lyrics are minimal in this CD, but in one song, “Citè Soleil” Patrick utilizes his native tongue to deliver a message, along with an excellent rhythmic groove. “Kush” features some outstanding jazz piano, muted horn, and sensual female spoken messages, along with the CD’s trademark strong rhythmic groove ground on Charles’ drum work. The last song on the CD entitled “Charlene,” is a beautiful piece of music, which emotionally portrays the love Charles has for his sister. The listener feels the emotional message of the song through the beautiful instrumental piano work. If you enjoy jazz music, and CDs where you can feel the soul of a real jazz musician, this CD is for you.
-Alicia Williams - Alicia Williams

‘Cite Soleil’ is the debut CD from drummer, composer and producer Patrick Charles.
It threatens to redefine the accepted boundaries of contemporary jazz yet, with seven of his own compositions, another from the multi talented Johnny Britt, plus a strong interpretation of the Seal mega hit ‘Crazy’, this hip nine track collection is always compelling and totally enthralling. Charles was raised in East Orange, NJ and became hooked on jazz after discovering Miles Davis’s ‘Tutu’. Now, well established as a freelance drummer in the LA area, he has gathered together an impressive array of fellow session players and established artists to collaborate with him on the album. In doing so he has delivered some of the strongest and diverse tunes of the year. For example ‘When The Love Is Gone’ finds sax from both Everette Harp and Bobby English that sends shivers down the spine. Kevin Toney provides exceptionally good piano and the entire piece is masterfully anchored by the distinct bass of Alex Al. Toney returns again to lend a hand with Charles’s delightfully understated ‘Charlene’ but, that said, the killer cut is without doubt the sumptuous ‘Breathe’. With more outstanding keyboards from Kevin Toney and wonderful nylon string guitar from Ricky Z this one is sure to become one of the Smooth Jazz Therapy top tracks of 2008.
Despite his New Jersey upbringing Charles was in fact born in Port – au – Prince Haiti and, from time to time, he allows the French influence of that island to permeate his music. This is particularly so with ‘Kush’ where the sexy spoken word of Sandrine Fritz lays the foundation for Johnny Britt on trumpet and Wayne Linsey on keys to weave a groove drenched web. The French theme (in title at least) continues with ‘Jean Michel’. In reality the tune is an atmospheric chunk of laid back jazz that features stellar performances from Britt, Linsey and of course ultra tight drums and percussion from Charles. It is the percussion and keyboards of Charles that take the lead on the intense ‘Makendel’ which, as an interlude, is used to build a bridge to the heavily produced title track. Here Kevin Toney takes the lead on piano and is backed by powerful rock tinged guitar from Rob Bacon yet the real energy comes from the track’s intense world rhythms that merge sensationally with spicy percussion from Timbale. Bacon is equally strong on the Johnny Britt composition ‘Code Noir’. A languid beat laid down in unison by Patrick Charles and Larry Kimpel (who is immense on bass) establishes the platform from which first Britt on trumpet and then Bobby English on sax and flute make magic with their jazzy vibe. -

He was born in Port-au-Prince Haiti, but for the most part Patrick Charles grew up in East Orange, NJ where, after discovering the Miles Davis track Tutu, he became hooked on jazz. Now, firmly established in the LA area as a session drummer, composer, and producer, Charles has gathered a batch of top-flight cats for his Cité Soleil debut. The project covers a gamut of styles with one track in particular a standout in so far as smooth jazz is concerned and we have it for you. Featuring Kevin Toney on piano, and Ricky Z on nylon string guitar, it’s instilled with a force that’s quasi ‘life giving’ and rather fittingly it’s entitled Breathe!!..
www.cafejazzradio.com - www.cafejazzradio.com