Diversity Records is a new comer to the recording label scene. This sampler represents their first entry into the marketplace as it was just released at the Home Entertainment show a few weeks ago. However, although the label itself is new, Paul Weitzel, the owner has had many years of experience in recording techniques as well as the ins and outs of record companies themselves.

This sampler contains works from three separate groups, doing three totally different types of music. Ecstasy In Numbers is a group known for performing original instrumental progressive jazz music. The second group, the Kevin Jones Band, is primarily a two person band with Kevin on the guitar and vocals and Greg Hendrickson on a variety of basses, however, they do occasionally have guest guitarists as well. Their real specialty are rhythmic and colorful music. The final group included on the sampler is Inner Voices. This group is a major diversion from the other two groups on the set. This group is a three person female a capella group that performs a large variety of music from pop to gospel and pretty much everything in between.

I though long and hard about how best to review this album and the best way I could come up with was to do it one band at a time. The first, Ecstasy In Numbers, not because they were my favorite, but because they happened to have the first song on the disc. Of course, the disc doesn’t go according to groups, so you have to bear with me as I move between various tracks which contain their work.

The first track on the album, “Les Vic” is sort of a fun play between all the various instruments in the band. The levels on this live recording are really well set so no one particular instrument takes center stage. I mean this figuratively since the stereo separation that creates the enveloping sound stage also allows instruments to be heard in their various locations during the performance.

What makes this track particularly impressive to me is that throughout the first part of the instrumental performance I felt I had a very good image of the actual recording venue. The acoustical environment was extremely well captured, especially given that this is a CD and it does have some very real limits on the information it can hold and the playback it can afford. However, throughout the track, one can hear the sounds of fans. However, the only thing the sound of fans did was allow me to enjoy the music even more then before, bringing me closer to the actual performance itself.

“Omaha,” the next of their performances is found on track four. It is a definite change from the first song in presentation. While the music is definitely well captured, the left hand of the soundstage seems taken over by the sound of the guitar and tends to slightly overwhelm the other instruments during most of the piece. At first I thought that perhaps it was the result of one band member being overzealous, however, the longer I listened to the song, the more I found that it was something more. It appears as though the intent is more to bring attention to the music the guitar is making then to overwhelm the sound of the other instruments in the background. I say this because as the song progresses, the guitar fade back into harmony with the other instruments playing together.

“Naima,” found on track seven is again a different sort of composition. Unlike the prior two this one leaves far more to the ambience of the venue to add to its poignant sound. In fact, I found it to be one of the most involving performances of the band on this particular disc. There is a great deal of harmonization between the instruments. One of the best features is the fade out at the end of the track, something the others songs don’t seem to do as well.

The last track on the sampler, like the first is performed by Ecstasy In Numbers. “Spellbound,” is the most laid tune of the CD. In fact, I felt it allowed for the easiest listening since it had none of the edgy instrumental sounds the other songs contained at times. Perhaps this is because I also felt it had the most dynamic range. This seemed to help in creating the best and most enveloping experience. In fact, even the sounds of the people present during the recording were non-invasive and entirely laid back.

The second band is the Kevin Jones Band. Unlike Ecstasy In Numbers, this band’s performance includes vocals. He has a somewhat laid back voice that doesn’t seem to tower above the band but yet is entirely intelligible and becomes a part of the instrumental harmony.

“For What It’s Worth” is the first of the Kevin Jones Band performances. Like Ecstasy In Numbers, these performances were also recorded live, though once again, without the normal degradation in ambience that takes away from the recording itself. The soundstage is simply amazing, the vocals are dead center where they feel they should be. The instruments and the sound of the crowd are equally well placed, making for an overall involving experience.

“Light Of Dawn” is the next of the Kevin Jones Band’s performances. Once again, the instrumental and vocal performances complement each other perfectly. This track is somewhat more laid back and the ambience of the recording venue much more evident. This is not a bad thing, although it does seem to lead to a decrease in the overall bass extension throughout the track. Unfortunately the bass appears to hit a certain level and then becomes almost uniform in sound, although, you can almost sense there should be far more detail. Luckily, the song itself is so beautiful that this issue is easily overlooked in the overall scheme of things.

“Hester St.” is a definite standard type song to be sure. The nice thing is that Kevin Jones’s performance is definitely notable. The midrange is exceptionally well defined making the overall feel more realistic. The same goes for the bass extension which doesn’t suffer like it did on the “Light Of Dawn” track. In fact of all the Kevin Jones Band’s performances on the sampler, this is perhaps my favorite. While it is similar in sound to the other Jones compositions, “For What It’s Worth” really shows the talent of the band.

“I Feel Fine” is the last performance of the Kevin Jones Band on the sampler disc. It might be the last, but it’s certainly not the least. The more you hear of Kevin’s voice, the more you want to hear it again. There is a far easier feel to Kevin’s vocals on this track then the others and in fact, it seems that there is more dynamic range in his performance as well.

The final group whose works are contained on this sampler is Inner Voices. It is sort of an interesting thing that the groups progress from total instrumental to instrumental and vocal to all vocal. However, by chance or design, this is exactly what happens, and I can say that I don't mind it at all.

Inner Voice’s first song is “And So It Goes” . It is the first time you get to hear their voices come together to create a harmony that needs no instruments to make it complete. In fact, their voices blend perfectly. The song is beautiful enough to make you want to hear it more than once.

“Over The Rainbow” has always been a favorite of mine since I was a little kid. Hearing it performed a capella certainly doesn't change that at all. The transients in the performance are captured perfectly and add to the overall quality of the song.

Inner Voices’ performance of “Can’t Take That Away From Me” is the first time on the sampler you get a chance to hear each of the vocalists, both as soloists and in unison. Once again the transients are perfectly captured and that together with the nearly perfect timing and rhythm make this one of the most memorable performances I have heard in some time. Once again it is one of the tracks I can honestly say I listen to over and over again.

I will admit that I would gladly go through the rest of Inner Voices performances on the sampler disc, but unlike the others they had quite a number of them. Each one has a new and different feel to them; though none is better then the next.

While I know that I have gone into more depth with this sampler disc than many readers like, I felt it important in order to give you the flavor of it. There are many different songs, groups and styles that it’s hard to put a finger on which one you might like the best. However, I can tell you that there is enough on the disc, that you are bound to find at least one and probably several, songs that will make the purchase of this sampler a no brainer decision. I for one can’t wait till the record company releases the albums with specific bands on them, but that won’t come till later this summer and fall. The disc should be available at all normal high end record outlets.

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Various Artists

Diversity Records 2003 Sampler

Released: June, 2003
Origination Year: Various
Time: 1:08:59
Tracks:16
Produced by:Various
Engineered by: Various
Mastered by:N/A
Style: Studio/ Live
Format: CD
Enhancement: None
Label: Diversity Records
Website:
www.ecstasyinnumbers.com
www.kevinjones.net
www.woods-and-water.com/innervoices

Les Vic
For What It's Worth
And So It Goes
Omaha
Light of Dawn
Over The Rainbow
Naima
Can't Take That Away From Me
Sincerely
Hester St
He Forgives
When I Fall In Love
Goodnight Sweetheart
I Feel Fine
Jubal's Lyre
Spellbound