Funky Jazz Party in Bloomington, MN

Funk is pretty consistently sacrificed to the romantic imperative on this pleasant, but ultimately not very interesting, collection. There's a gentle strut underlying
Rick Brown
's smooth-jazz trumpet showcase
"Nightfall,"
and
Avenue Blue
shakes its understated booty on
"A Woman's Touch."
But
Steve Cole
's
"Stay Awhile"
is more typical -- it buries any perceptible rhythmic tension under a thick, warm aural blanket.
Randy Crawford
"I'd Be an Angel"
is a very nice song and
Smoke n'Function
gives up the genuine funk on
"Smokee."
The only important question about an album like this is that of utility -- will it get the listener in the mood? Probably, as long as he or she isn't an anal retentive music critic. ~ Rick Anderson