Dave Valentin - Red Sun (1993)

This was flutist Dave Valetin's 15th release for GRP and, as with his previous ones, it features impeccable musicianship, subtle funk grooves, some heated Latin rhythms and rather lightweight melodies. Despite some passionate moments, the music always sounds a bit controlled, never exceeding prescribed time limits or emotional boundaries. There are some strong moments of interest on this relatively pleasing CD, particularly a restrained melodic statement by trumpeter Arturo Sandoval on "We'll Be Together Again" and a groovin' version of "With a Little Help from My Friends." ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

GRP Records, GRD-9699, 1993
Recorded at Sound On Sound Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Dave Valentin - Flute (#1-4,6,9) Flutes (#5,7,8), Arranger (#8,9)
Arturo Sandoval - Flugelhorn (#4)
Steve Turre - Trombone, Shells (#8)
Bill O'Connell - Piano, Synthesizer (#1,2,5,6,8,9), Arranger (#1-5,7,8,9)
Bernd Schoenhart - Guitar (#1)
Lincoln Goines - Bass (#1,2,6-9), Acoustic Bass (#4), Arranger (#6)
Dave Samuels - Vibraphone (#3)
Richie Morales - Drums (#2,3,4,6,7), Cymbals
Robert Ameen - Drums (#1,5,8), Percussion [Cymbals, Stick]
Milton Cardona - Percussion, Congas (#1), Cowbell (#1), Shekere/Cajon (#5)
Sammy Figueroa - Percussion (#2,3,5,7,8), Congas (#7)
Jon Lucien - Vocals (#2)
Steve Shapiro - Synthesizer Programming

Tracks:
1. With A Little Help From My Friends {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (5:20)
2. Red Sun {Bill O'Connell} (5:11)
3. Two Steps Ahead {Bill O'Connell} (3:46)
4. We'll Be Together Again {Carl Fischer, Frankie Laine} (5:17)
5. Beyond The Ridge {Bill O'Connell} (4:33)
6. Lia's Song {Lincoln Goines} (4:29)
7. Loco Motion {Bill O'Connell} (5:04)
8. Little Sunflower {Freddie Hubbard} (6:23)
9. Pensativa {Clare Fischer} (4:15) 

Total Time: 44:28 

Credits:
Producer - Dave Valentin
Producer, Recording, Mixing - Josiah Gluck
Executive-Producer - Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen
Mastering Engineer - Ted Jensen
Assistant Engineer - Devin Emke, Fred Kevorkian, John Siket, Peter Beckerman
Photography - Carol Weinberg
Art Direction - Scott Johnson
Graphic Design - Dan Serrano, Jackie Salway, Alba Acevedo 

Two Steps Ahead

Charles Fambrough - Upright Citizen (1997)

The heart of a jazz fan beats like Fambrough's bass, driving the lifeblood of warm sounds through the speakers and into the brain. Some bassists, in their own sessions, favor percussive and percolating arrangements that place the instrument in the role of soloist. Charles Fambrough actually seems to downplay the bass on Upright Citizen, ceding the spotlight to guests like Grover Washington, Jr. and Joe Ford. Fambrough's domain here is the rhythm section, adding programmed drums to his basslines in order to get the right foundation in place. As the captain of this ship, Fambrough ensures a smooth ride, absorbing the shock in Alex Bugnon's potentially bumpy "In Stride" and making sure a track like "D's Song" has the right amount of snap to it. Though Fambrough built his reputation largely on bop, Upright Citizen is more of a crossover album, lyrical and light on its feet. There are certainly stretches of substance, such as George Duke's piano solo on "It's Not Easy Havin' Fun," but even here the soprano sax washes away the intellectualism in a simple, cleansing motion. This session doesn't completely qualify as smooth jazz; there's more afoot than sweet sounds and mildly funky rhythms, yet even the most complex passages are never far removed from an ingratiating and warmly rendered melody. If you enjoy the sound of the soprano sax but find Kenny G a little light for your tastes, Upright Citizen might be right for you. The disc was reissued by Random Chance in 2002, with a different cover and slightly scrambled track order that essentially flip-flopped the opening and closing songs, among other things. The original 1997 Nu Groove recording is rich, vibrant, and clean, so you can't go wrong with either copy. ~ by Dave Connolly.

NuGroove Records, NUG-3003, 1997

Random Chance Records, RCD-7, 2002

Musicians:

Charles Fambrough - Bass (#1,2-4,6-9), Keyboards (#1), Programmed Drums (#3,4,7,8)

John Swana - Trumpet (#1), Muted Trumpet (#6,8), EUI (#6,7)

Gerald Albright - Alto Saxophone (#6)

Joe Ford - Soprano Saxophone (#1-3,5,7,8)

Grover Washington Jr. - Soprano Saxophone (#4,9)

Alex Bugnon - Piano (#1,5), Keyboards (#1,5,8)

Bruce Barth - Piano (#2), Keyboards (#2)

Mulgrew Miller - Piano (#3), Keyboards (#3,4)

George Duke - Piano [Solo] (#4), Keyboards (#4,6)

Rich Budesa - Piano [Solo] (#8)

Bill O'Connell - Piano (#9)

Nick Sistrun - Guitar (#1)

Gerald Brown - Drums (#2,9)

N'Dugu Chancelor - Drums (#4,6)

Pete Vinson - Drums, Poogie Bell-Trumpet, Programmed Drums (#5)

Marlon Simon - Percussion (#1,9)

Edson D'Silva (cafe) - Percussion (#2,9)

Munyungo Jackson - Percussion (#1,6)

Jon Lucien - Vocals (#2)

Tracks:

1. Fun City {Charles Fambrough} (4:25)

2. Bright Eyes {Charles Fambrough} (7:40)

3. D's Song {Charles Fambrough} (5:04)

4. It's Not Easy Having Fun {Charles Fambrough} (5:43)

5. In Stride {Alex Bugnon} (5:01)

6. Disguises {John Swana, Charles Fambrough} (7:59)

7. Dina {Charles Fambrough} (5:09)

8. Down The Way {Charles Fambrough} (4:17)

9. Main Street {Bill O'Connell} (4:00)

Total Time: 46:18

Credits:

Producer - Charles Fambrough, Stuart Alan Love

Executive Producer - David Chackler