The Best Man

Performer: Original Soundtrack
Producer: Poke & Tone
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Original music score composed by Stanley Clarke. "Turn Your Lights Down Low" was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Personnel: James "Big Jim" Wright (vocals, keyboards); John Scott (guitar); Liz Sobieski, John Kennedy , Tom Kornacker, Helen Foli, Hyacinthe Tlucek, Mike Sobieski (violin); Charles Gray (viola); Joshua Koestenbaum (cello); Jamey Jaz, Scott Storch (keyboards); Ahmir Khalib Thompson (drums); Xavier Smith (drum programming). An African-American romantic comedy provides the forum for this various-artists album, which presents 14 state-of-the-art examples of contemporary mainstream R&B. The complicated rhythm tracks percolate along at slow-to-medium tempos, and the choruses are sung by vocal groups over which the elastic voices of the featured artists wail expressively, telling tales of love's up and downs. Now and then, rap turns up, most notably on Sporty Thievz's "Hit It Up" (one of two tracks not actually featured in the film). But mostly, the love patter rules. The best examples are Maxwell's "Let's Not Play the Game" and the duet "After All Is Said and Done," by Beyonc� and Marc Nelson. ~ William Ruhlmann Filmmaker Malcolm Lee has often averred in interviews that the difference between he and his famous cousin is that while Spike prefers to present the grittier underside of life, Malcolm leans to themes of the softer side of life, to simpler love stories. This distinction carries into the music that graces their soundtracks. While Spike's movies tend to mine Soul history for songs whose pop overtones hide more profound meanings, on THE BEST MAN, Malcolm primarily calls upon practitioners of love songs to compliment his acclaimed debut flick. Incomparable modern soul crooner Maxwell provides the kindest cuts on the album, shining on the spiraling plea "Let's Not Play the Game" and the sharp "As My Girl." The Roots, who rarely if ever let down, do another rap/female singer duet in style on the alluring "What You Want." However you may feel about combining the vocals of departed artists with modern vocalists for a digital duet, it's hard to deny the appeal of "Turn Your Lights Down Low," which combines Bob Marley's signature purr and growl with Lauryn Hill's trademark smooth vocals. THE BEST MAN stands as a both sweet and eclectic collection of love songs.

Entertainment Weekly (11/5/99, p.83) - "...will probably be remembered for 'Turn The Lights Down Low,' a digital duet between Lauryn Hill and the late Bob Marley....[The album also] weds sultry commercial R&B...with boho sounds...amd resiliently inventive rap." - Rating: B+ Q (2/00, p.84) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...the calibre of artist os high....well-sung synth-soul...." The Source (12/99, p.260) - "...a gem-filled compilation....this is a great album. Urban romance soundtracks haven't slipped off since BOOMERANG."

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