Jazz / Fusion, Jazz-Pop, Crossover Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Alec Milstein Bass (Electric), Vocals, Arranger, Keyboards
Art Porter Sax (Alto)
Bruce Hornsby Piano
Curt Bisquera Programming, Drums
Dave Koz Sax (Soprano)
Eric Jordan Vocals (Background), Vocals
Gary Meek Flute, Sax (Tenor), Sax (Soprano)
Howard "Buzz" Feiten Guitar
Janis Siegel Vocals
Jeff Lorber Engineer, Producer
John "J.R." Robinson Drums
Lee Ritenour
Leroy Osbourne Arranger
Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar
Paulinho Da Costa Percussion
After a seven year layoff, feisty veteran funkmaster Lorber steps out from the producer's chair with a fun filled all star project. The keyboardist, best known for his fusion years, has been far from idle during that time, producing for pop jazz sax gods Kenny G and Eric Marienthal, and mixing for U2 and Paula Abdul. His latest lives up to its title...though not resoundingly so. As he did with Marienthal's brilliant Oasis, Lorber divides his keyboard time between punchy, soulful rhythms and mellifluous textures that pour on the romance. Easygoing exercises like "Yellowstone" and the Latin tinged "Punta Del Soul" inspire a cool charm, but it's danceable cookers like "High Wire" and "Jazzery" that keep the disc spiraling. The only track that seems out of step is "Do What It Takes," whose production takes on a dated, 70s Crusaders sheen. Spirited performances surround Lorber's tasty keywork, most notably those of Art Porter, Gary Meek, Dave Koz and Bruce Hornsby. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide
Jeff Lorber
Active Decades: '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Nov 04, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Crossover Jazz, Fusion, Jazz-Pop, Smooth Jazz
With a smooth sound bringing together elements of funk, R&B, rock, and electric jazz, keyboardist Jeff Lorber helped pioneer a genre of fusion later formatted under such names as NAC and contemporary jazz. Born in Philadelphia on November 4, 1952, he began playing the piano at the age of four, and as a teen performed with a variety of local R&B bands. Lorber's infatuation with jazz began during his stay at the Berklee College of Music, and after forming the Jeff Lorber Fusion he issued the group's self-titled debut in 1977. During the first half of the following decade, the band became one of the most popular jazz acts of the period, touring nonstop and even scoring a Best R&B Instrumental Grammy nomination for the radio hit "Pacific Coast Highway." Released in 1986, Private Passion was Lorber's most successful outing yet, but at this commercial peak he stopped recording, instead turning to production and session work. He did not issue his first proper solo LP until 1991's Worth Waiting For, remaining both a prolific performer and producer for the rest of the decade. He recorded for Verve and Zebra in the '90s before moving over to Narada in the 2000s and releasing successful smooth jazz albums like 2003's Philly Style and 2005's Flipside. He released He Had a Hat on Blue Note in 2007. In 2010, Lorber released the '70s funk and soul inflected Heard That.
---Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide |
