AMG Review of Smooth Jazz Slow Jams

Thom Jurek
All Music Guide

Issued in 1997 at the very height of the smooth jazz revolution, this Shanie comp collects a dozen cuts by some of then-biggest names in the biz, all for a fair price. Innovators of the subgenre of jazz like Grover Washington and Angela Bofill are here, the former with his gorgeous "Strawberry Moon" that showcases his deeply soulful blowing style on tenor and soprano; the latter with the hit "Love in Slow Motion," and that voice of hers is unmistakable. And speaking of vocalists, there is the literally inimitable late Jon Lucien on this platter with a fine late track for him in "Endless Is Love." Larry Coryell is the surprise with "Soulin," but it isn't the track, it's this absolutely groovy little funk number and his unhurried acoustic guitar playing over the rhythm that's the shocker (let's face it, the man is known for playing a lot of notes in a blur). Kim Pensyl is here with a seamless piano over loop ballad called "When You Were Mine," which is no relation to the Prince track by the same name. But there's funk even in the laid-back jams such as Fattburger's read of Stevie Wonder's "Creepin'." In sum, this is a great value for the money; yeah, it's mood music, but what kind of jazz doesn't fit some kind of mood? If smooth jazz is the ticket for you, with these fine grooves it's tough to go wrong here.