Is it “smooth”? Is it “straightahead?” We report;you decide.
Sam Rucker handles the tenor, soprano and alto sax as well as keyboards on this mix of R&B and smooth jazz. He’s played with the likes of Ronnie Laws, Gerald Veasley and Ivan Neville, so he knows a bit about working a groove. Here, a core team of TC Oliver/dr, Mike Eley-Brian Eubanks/b and Carlton Savage-Bill White/g work through gentle and seamless rhythms with Rucker on a velvet tenor on “Before I Let Go” and a lilting alto on “Love’s Melody.” A feathery duet between Rucker’s soprano and Eley/s bass on “A Long Way to Go” is lighter than air, and some nice guitar work by Savage carries “Be Tru 2 Who U R.” The whole album is gentle on the mind, and good for the feet.
Jackiem Joyner plays just about everything here from saxes to programming of strings, drums and piano, with cameo appearances by the likes of Gerald Albright/ts, Tim Bailey/b Keiko Matsui/p and Tayta Matsuno/g to name just a few. The songs are all cleverly arranged, with a pair of four stringed pickers on “Double Bass” and s bit of hip hop underlaying Joyner’s soprano sax on “Europa” that is quite attractive. A hip horn section along with some guitar effects gets experimental on the title track, while turntables meld with rock riffs on “Born to Fly.” Joyner’s alto is clear as a bell on “Breathe” and mixes it up well with Albright on the hip “Big Step.” Impressive go around
Favor Productions
Artistry Music