Saxophonist Candy Dulfer’s first release under her new label (Heads Up International) is aptly named Candy Store and is as sweet to listen to as walking through a store of your favorite confections.  The band is tight through most of the tracks, and there’s nothing left to chance with Candy’s sax.
  
The first one up is entitled simply “Candy.”  The band hits you right between the eyes with its hammer down intro, and its stage like announcement of the title.  This one’s funky with a swinging beat that will have you up in no time.  Candy (the saxophonist) plays up the driving beat with some nice riffs that are both catchy and refreshing.  You’ll be hearing a lot out of this one either on the radio, stage or club down the street.  There is an eighty’s type syncopated intro to “L. A. City Lights” that comes back in to play between verses.  Candy extends her range here and flexes her sax muscle while the band plays more to the background.  “Music=Love” is a message we can all relate to.  The interesting music box intro lends itself to some down right funk from Candy.  The vocals are a nice touch that explains the meaning of both music and love.  The playing has an edge to it and will good one to pair up with the first track.  Put on your dancing shoes and fiesta hat for the calypso laden “La Cabana.”  The Spanish guitar plays off the driving bass and brass background.  There’s still enough room for a little sax, and it shines as this one comes to a climatic close.

The pace slows way down for the romantic “11:58.”  A steady bass line invites the melodic verses from Candy’s sax.  It has that “two minutes till midnight” feel to it.  What happens after midnight is anyone’s guess.  “Summertime” picks up that heavy dance synth bass with Candy belting out the vocals of why and what she likes about summer.  You can’t help but join her as she turns up the heat of our favorite season.  “Soulsax” is a great name for this one.  Candy is laid back in her approach.  There’s an almost bluesy club feel throughout.  We’ve had a little bit of calypso, some blues and now a taste of reggae here in the Candy Store.  “Smokin’ Gun” has that Jamaican feel to it as we rock along to a constant reggae beat.  It’s heavily bass driven with some nice touches of sax to spice it up.  “Back To Juan” is almost a play on words but plays more on syncopated rhythms.  There is a little programming work in there to give it a retro sound as well as some nice horn arrangements that play off of Candy’s alto.  She does some really nice work here.  “Everytime” concludes the set with a slower delivery that has not been heard so far in the “store.”  It’s a soulful reprise with thoughts of a special place or person.  You feel it in the approach and it carries though out the song.  There’s a bonus track that I won’t tell you about, but you can act surprised when you get to it.

This one’s fun without a lot of calories that come from so many candy stores today.  In fact, with many of the danceable tracks on this one, you may even loose a little weight before you’re finished listening.  I urge to take a trip through the Candy Store and try some of the tasty treats from Candy Dulfer.  

- Harvey Cline