I have yet to hear a wah wah used this effectively in a jazz song since Portishead was the top of the heap. Here, Doc City creates beautiful sounds with sweet depths of emotional subtlety right from the start, with songs like “What Love is” effectively gliding through silverstar moonlit jazz horn solos like a professional ice skater. It really has a that right amount of darkness mixed between its warm, tender, “is it respect” breakdown. You should listen to Doc City for this alone.
These twelve tracks are no joke and I implore you to listen to them all. “When You Are Near” sounds like an early morning acoustic radio special, the kind of song that plays on New England FM stations.
The vocals are the only thing here that sound a bit off in this musical mix, yet for a purpose. Her words telling a story or pain and trying the best to make sense of still being alive, having only the chance to feel love whenever their certain someone is near them. Sean Jones and his blinding trumpet blend with the vocals beautifully.
“Did You Choose” is a blend of Steely Dan soundscapes, and adds even more politcal, philosophical questioning than the band did at points. Other than “What Love Is,” a true star nd out on this album is song is “Sweetest Taboo.” The rap verse is terrific, and the vocals scattering across a soul smash of enchanting instrumentation makes this a definite standout.
There are musical theater elements at play, blues, jazz, hip hop, and spoken word throughout Welcome To Doc City. It is a piece filled to the brim with an insane amount of well developed sounds, strong vocal arrangements, and a lot of buttery, glowing, golden oldie moments. Turn to tracks like “No Goodbyes” to get a taste if what I am talking about. I truly admire its Jackie Brown scope of vintage soul, and hope nothing but the best for this band.
Doc City really gave the old college try new life, making an album as smart as it is heartfelt, sincere as it is telling, and so far the best complete Jazz release of 2023.
