A mix of soul, smooth jazz and vintage R&B are delivered by Eric Valentine, who writes the material and plays keyboards and drums along with Brian Simpson/p, Gary Stanionis/perc, Benjamin J. Shepherd/b Adam Hawley/g Keith McKelley/sax and various guests on this danceable session. Rick Braun adds his sweetly muted trumpet to the funky and sweet title track, and veteran Kirk Whalum brings his sax in for a powerful “Back in the Day” along with the leader’s vocals. Some hip Wes Montgomery sleek strums add to the lithe bass line on “Back to the Groove” and rich a 70s disco ball ballad feel is given to the romantic “That Guy.” Here, smooth is a style and not a genre.