Warm tone trombonist Geoff Alpert mixes smooth grooves with hip R&B licks on this highly danceable and accessible session. The rhythm section includes Gail Johnson/key along with the “LA Collective of Darryl Williams/b, Adam Hawley/g, Greg Manning/key and Tony Moore/dr along with a three man horn section and a rotating team of guest vocalists. Alpert pulls some fun surprises, taking The Jackson’s “Heartbreak Hotel” and giving it a Brazilian groove, while he slides safely home with a tribute to the Jazz Crusaders on the funky” The Crusade.” Williams puts a blister on his thumb on the slapping “Zen Funk” while a nice Caribbean groove is breezy on “Open Your Heart” Silky R&B is grooving no “Don’t Ask My Neighbors” and the team gets a mellow soul on “Aloha Nights with some tenor work by Steve Nieves. Easy on the ears.
Bass guitarist Mitchell Coleman Jr. sounds like he’s auditioning for the Fabulous Flames on this jazz-funk fusion fest. You got some George Benson-inspired guitar work by Josh Sklair on “Enchanted Summer” and Kim Richmond’s alto burns with delight on “Interfuse.” The team gets into a hip-hop groove for Michael Bolivar’s sax on “”So Funky” and irresistible R&B sets the table for Felix Oquendo’s tenor on the title track. Some sweet soul singing is presented by Dionyza Sutton on “Street Life” and the team gels and shakes on as Coleman digs a rivulet that no one can escape out of on “Redemption.” Just follow the reflection of the disco ball to find this one!