Best of Smooth Jazz [Warner]

Performer: Various Artists
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Compilation producers: Matt Pierson, Steve Williams. Personnel: George Benson (vocals, guitar); George Duke (vocals, piano, Synclavier, background vocals); Al Jarreau, Rachelle Ferrell (vocals, background vocals); Michael Franks, Randy Crawford (vocals); Steve Lukather (guitar, electric guitar); Earl Klugh (guitar, keyboards); Dean Parks, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour , Paul Jackson, Jr. , Ray Fuller (guitar); Eric Gale, Jay Graydon (electric guitar); Ernie Watts (flute); David Sanborn (saxophone, alto saxophone); Boney James (alto saxophone, keyboards, synthesizer); Marc Russo, Lon Price (alto saxophone); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Jorge Dalto (piano, electric piano, Clavinet); Joe Sample (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Ronnie Foster (electric piano, keyboards, mini-Moog synthesizer); Michael Omartian (Fender Rhodes piano, synthesizer); Hilary James (keyboards, synthesizer, programming); David Torkanowsky, Mark Nilan, Leon Pendarvis, Russell Ferrante, Barnaby Finch (keyboards); Michael Sembello (synthesizer, programming, background vocals); Michael Boddicker, Randy Waldman (synthesizer); Gary King (electric bass); Harvey Mason, Sr. , Idris Muhammad, Jeff Porcaro, John Guerin, Ralph Penland, Ricky Lawson, Steve Gadd (drums); Lenny Castro, Paulinho Da Costa, Ralph MacDonald, Ray Armando (percussion); Paul Brown (drum programming); Jim Gilstrap (background vocals). Illustrator: Hans Neleman. Unknown Contributor Roles: David Sanborn; Earl Klugh; Fourplay; George Duke; Joe Sample; Al Jarreau; Michael Franks; Randy Crawford; Yellowjackets; Boney James. Arrangers: George Duke; Hilary James ; Michael Sembello; Paul Brown ; Boney James; Carl Burnett. One could imagine this extremely radio-friendly grab bag as the sole "jazz" album on the shelf of a casual Wal-Mart shopper who bought it on an impulse. Indeed, it will give the harried consumer on the go an hour or so of easy-listening jazz, chosen with some care from a 21-year span of Warner Bros. recordings and ranging from the most recycled Fuzak clich�s to borderline R&B and genuine, if always relaxed, stretches of musically satisfying electric jazz. The list of artists is a reasonably good representation of who was hot in crossover music from the '70s through the '90s: George Benson, Randy Crawford, George Duke, Fourplay, Michael Franks, Bob James, Boney James, Al Jarreau, Earl Klugh, Joe Sample, David Sanborn, and the Yellowjackets. Furthermore, almost every track is fairly representative of each musician's work for Warner (and earlier outfits like Bob James' Tappan Zee label) -- and some, like Benson's "Breezin'," James' "Angela," and Sample's "Hippies on a Corner," are particularly pleasing choices. ~ Richard S. Ginell

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