Official Review HUMAN NATURE - Reviews and Comments

Herb Alpert
HUMAN NATURE
Herb Alpert Presents HRB 153


Executive Produced by Herb Alpert with Michael Shapiro

Songs:

1. Human Nature (Steven M. Porcaro/John Bettis) - 3:05

Arranged and Produced by Herb Alpert & Michael Shapiro​

2. Shake It (Herb Alpert/Eddie del Barrio) - 3:34

Arranged and Produced by Herb Alpert & Eddie del Barrio​

3. Alfie (Burt Bacharach/Hal David) - 3:12

Produced by Herb Alpert & Bill Cantos/Arranged by Bill Cantos​

4. Thalia (Herb Alpert/Eddie del Barrio) - 3:16

Arranged and Produced by Herb Alpert & Eddie del Barrio​

5. Look Up Again (Burt Bacharach/Elvis Costello) - 4:06

Produced by Herb Alpert & Bill Cantos/Arranged by Bill Cantos​

6. Incognito (Herb Alpert/Eddie del Barrio) - 3:59

Arranged and Produced by Herb Alpert & Eddie del Barrio​

7. Don't Go Breaking My Heart (Burt Bacharach/Hal David) - 2:46

Produced by Herb Alpert & Bill Cantos/Arranged by Bill Cantos​

8. Mystery Man (Herb Alpert/Hussain Jiffry/Greg Manning) - 3:46

Arranged and Produced by Herb Alpert & Hussain Jiffry​

9. Doodles (Herb Alpert/Eddie del Barrio) - 3:21

Arranged & Produced by Herb Alpert & Eddie del Barrio
​

Musicians:
Herb Alpert - All Trumpets & Additional Keyboards
Michael Shapiro - Drums & Percussion
Hussain Jiffry - Fretted, Fretless Basses, Additional Keyboards (1)
Bill Cantos - Keyboards, Computer Grooves, Strings & Vocals
Eduardo del Barrio - Keyboards, Computer Grooves & Strings
Andre De Santanna - Bass (1, 2, 6)
Michael Lehmann Boddicker - Synthesizer Intro (1)
Jamieson Trotter - Hammond C-3 (1)
Cris Games - Turntable & Samples (1)
Greg Manning - Keyboards (8 )
Lani Hall - Vocals (3, 7)

Vocals on "Human Nature" - Herb Alpert, Lani Hall, Bill Cantos, Hussain Jiffry & Michael Shapiro

Tracks 1, 2, 6 & 7 Mixed by Andre De Santanna
Tracks 5 & 8 Mixed by Hussain Jiffry
Tracks 3 & 4 Mixed by Herb Alpert

Mastered by Bernie Grundman @ Grundman Mastering
Art Direction/Design - Brian Porizek
Front & Back Cover Photos - Gerry Wersh
Inside Photos - Dewey Nicks
Marketing & Creative Energy @ Croshal Entertainment - Fred Croshal & Jimmy Brunetti



Capt. Bacardi

 

A 4-star review from All Music Guide:

Legendary pop and jazz icon Herb Alpert continues his prolific career run with his 2016 studio album,Human Nature. The album follows up his well-received 2014 effort, In the Mood, and picks up on that album's mix of electronic pop and Latin-inflected, dance-oriented grooves. In his eighties at the time of recording, he has aged into a soulful, lyrical musician able to bridge the light pop stylings of his youth with more introspective choices. Human Nature finds him completely engaged, continuing to explore new sounds and songs. Joining Alpert here are several longtime collaborators in producer/percussionist Michael Shapiro, producer/arranger/keyboardist Eduardo Del Barrio, bassist/guitarist Hussain Jiffry, keyboardist/arranger/producer Bill Cantos, and others. As with Alpert's other albums since coming out of a ten-year hiatus in 2009, Human Nature finds the trumpeter applying his distinctively sweet-toned sound to a nicely balanced combination of beloved pop standards, unexpected covers, and originals. Sometimes, as on the title track, an inspired Brazilian Mardi Gras-infused reworking of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature," Alpert goes for an inventive cross-genre angle. Other times, as on his lush, romantic reading of the Burt Bacharach/Elvis Costello-ballad "Look Up Again," he takes a more straightforward approach, framing his yearning Miles Davis-esque lines with reverb-soaked piano and shimmering orchestral strings. Alpert even draws upon his iconic Tijuana Brass double-tracked trumpet sound for a bright, electro-Latin take on the Burt Bacharach/Hal David classic "Don't Go Breaking My Heart," which also features vocals from his wife, muse, and frequent collaborator Lani Hall. Elsewhere, Alpert strikes a similarly pleasant, cross-genre stance with his originals, like the disco-salsa "Shake It" and the sophisticated, cocktail hour-ready Latin jazz of "Mystery Man." Ultimately, Human Nature is a warmly produced album by an artist who has seen and done it all, and yet still finds magic and mystery in the process.

 

I've given this album a good dozen listens by now. "Human Nature" has a bit of a march/samba feel to it. "Shake It" is a cool tune and I it reminds me a bit of a modern TJB sound, somewhat similar to the Bullish album. It has a great groove to it. "Alfie" is done pretty much straight. Nice vocals by Lani. "Thalia" is the most intriguing song, composition wise. It's in 5. Love the opening voices to it. Almost has a Manhattan Transfer quality on the voices. This is easily my favorite song. "Look Up Again" is a waltz, and reminds me of Bacharach's "She's Gone Away" in a way. It's a gorgeous song and I'm surprised no one else has recorded it. Beautiful horn work by Herb. My second favorite tune. "Incognito" is a quirky little tune. It's like the melody never starts on 1 but on 2. Nice work by the rhythm section. "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" is another favorite. I've always loved this tune, both the TJB version and Bacharach's version on the Look Of Love box set are great as well. Another good groove for this melody. "Mystery Man" comes the closest to an actual jazz tune. Love the melody on this one. Another fave! And finally there's "Doodles", which frankly doesn't do much for me. The melody is a bit hokey for my liking, although the groove is pretty good.

This is clearly more of a pop album than the light jazz albums he's put out the past couple of years. Short, sweet and to the point. But hey, the man's still got it. How many 81 year-olds can make this kind of music?