Jazz / Smooth Jazz; Instrumental Pop; Crossover Jazz; Contemporary Jazz
Recorded: Sep-Oct 1994, Bearsville Studios, Bearsville, New York
There may be hope for jazz fusion after all. If there were no other evidence, trumpeter Chris Botti's terrific album would be enough to give hope to even the most jaded bebop snob. This is that rarest of things: a completely unchallenging record that is also richly rewarding. Botti's approach is lyrical but spare; the production is dark, warm and rich. A sense of deep and quiet romanticism pervades everything, and while Botti never really lets loose and wails, he manages to make his chops obvious on tunes like "Cubism" and the funky "On the Night Ride." Most of the songs are powered by a gentle funk groove, and one even features a vocal cameo by Gen-X poster girl Edie Brickell. Jazz snobs will get sucked into this delicious music despite themselves; fans of Kenny G and Najee will think it's "real" jazz and consider themselves sophisticated for liking it so much. The bottom line is that there's no reason to do anything but abandon yourself to this album.
---Rick Anderson, allmusic
Chris Botti - trumpet, piano, keyboards, tambourine, programmin
gEdie Brickell - vocals
Michael Brecker - tenor saxophon
eMorris Goldberg - African flutes
Sandra Park - violin
Rebecca Young - violin
Paul Joseph Moore - piano, keyboards, Omnichord
Kevin Killen - Omnichord
Andy Snitzer - Rhodes, bass, programming
Mitchell Froom - Wurlitzer organ
Dominic Kanza - guitar
Larry Saltzman - guitar
Shane Fontayne - guitar
Paul Livant - guitar
Marc Shulman - guitar
Pino Palladino - bass
Steve Ferrone - drums
Jerry Marotta - drums
Cyro Baptista - sordu, shaker
Joe Bonadio - triangle, frame drum, percussion |
