Sunday, January 2, 2011

Jeff Lorber: Worth Waiting For (1991)

After a seven year layoff, feisty veteran funkmaster Lorber steps out from the producer's chair with a fun filled all star project. The keyboardist, best known for his fusion years, has been far from idle during that time, producing for pop jazz sax gods Kenny G and Eric Marienthal, and mixing for U2 and Paula Abdul. His latest lives up to its title...though not resoundingly so. As he did with Marienthal's brilliant Oasis, Lorber divides his keyboard time between punchy, soulful rhythms and mellifluous textures that pour on the romance. Easygoing exercises like "Yellowstone" and the Latin tinged "Punta Del Soul" inspire a cool charm, but it's danceable cookers like "High Wire" and "Jazzery" that keep the disc spiraling. The only track that seems out of step is "Do What It Takes," whose production takes on a dated, 70s Crusaders sheen. Spirited performances surround Lorber's tasty keywork, most notably those of Art Porter, Gary Meek, Dave Koz and Bruce Hornsby.
Tracklist:
1. Rain Song
2. The Underground
3. Yellowstone
4. Punta Del Este
5. Lost With You
6. Worth Waiting For
7. High Wire
8. Wavelength
9. Columbus Ave.
10. Do What It Takes
11. Jazzery
Buy at Amazon
Fileserve @ 320K