AMG Review of Banana Fish

Scott Yanow
All Music Guide

Banana Fish is one of keyboardist Don Grusin's weaker efforts. Two songs (Brenda Russell's "Baby's Comin' Home Tonight" and Frank Quintero's "Green Diamonds") are throwaway R&B tunes. The instrumentals are at their best when used as slightly funky background music. There is little development beyond the melody statements, and nothing occurs that will be remembered five minutes after the CD ends except one of the dullest versions of "Home on the Range" ever recorded. Don Grusin has always been capable of much better than this type of commercial project.