At this stage in his illustrious career, David Sanborn has nothing to prove. Yet, his latest releases seem to reflect that he believes he does, and it’s that he’s a jazzer at heart. On this latest release, produced by his alumnus and early bassist Marcus Miller, Sanborn displays his penetrating tone on a wonderful mix of themes that veer between vintage R&B and Afro Cuban, with even a searing duet with pianist Roy Assaf on the “Manchurian Candidate Overture” for a good measured send off.
The foundational team of Marcus Baylor/dr, Javier Diaz/perc, Roy Assaf/key and Miller pair it down to create a Weather Reportish vibe for Sanborn to wail on his horn on a searing “Drift” while reeds and horns meld together on “Oublie Moi” to form an exotic caravan. Funky guitars and catchy earth tones make up Latin grooves and environs on “A La Verticale” and “Spanish Joint,” both which have Sanborn cutting through like a brand new Cold Steel knife. Randy Crawford takes on a Motown-ed “Windmills Of Your Mind” and Larry Braggs takes on the Temptations’ “Can’t Get Next To You” with a swagger that has Sanborn doing his Lee Allened best. This is a fun session, and Sanborn’s stock is still rising.
Okeh Records