Surrender

Performer: Jonathan Butler
Artist: Boney James; Paulinho Da Costa; Ricky Peterson
Engineer: Paul Brown; Erik Zobler
Producer: Paul Brown; Jonathan Butler
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Jonathan Butler (vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming); Boney James (soprano saxophone); Larry Williams (saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach (trombone); Gregory Manning (keyboards, programming); Ricky Peterson (keyboards); Alex Al (synthesizer, bass); Lil' John Roberts (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Kurt Lykes, Shawntae Lykes (background vocals); Paul Brown (programming). Recorded at Schnee Studios, North Hollywood, Califronia; Funky Joint Studios, Sherman Oaks, California. Personnel: Jonathan Butler (vocals, guitar, keyboards, programming); Stephen Erdody (cello); Phil Ayling (oboe); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Ricky Peterson (keyboards); Alex Al (bass synthesizer); Lil' John Roberts (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Kurt Lykes (background vocals). Recording information: Schnee Studios, No. Hollywood, CA. Photographer: Michael Wilson . Smooth jazz superstar Jonathan Butler gets his album, Surrender, off to a surprisingly rootsy start with "This Is Love," featuring live drums and Butler's trademark vocals. Butler has always expressed a deep soul influence and the whole album has a Stevie Wonder-lite sound about it. Despite the fact that the guitarist favors belabored introductions that merely set up predictable melodies and grooves, fans of Butler should find much to enjoy here. "Take Me Back" has a nice folk feel, kind of like James Taylor meets Babyface and contains just the hint of African vocal harmony on the intro. Similarly, "Back to Love" is a catchy R&B groover with much crossover appeal. This track, as others on Surrender, might have benefited from slightly hipper production, such as a two-step dance beat � la Craig David's "Fill Me In," but satisfies nonetheless. ~ Matt Collar

JazzTimes (9/02, p.116) - "...A transporting, joyful listen..."

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