various artists,
The Love Project
(Narada, 2004)

This smooth-listening album features 12 skilled, smooth jazz artists and 12 "snuggle down together" tunes.

The album opens with Euge Groove and his tasty soprano saxophone version of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight." Then Frayne covers the Isley Brothers' "For the Love of You" with some silky dark vocals from Bobby Lewis and Cristina Sanchez. The album comes up for air with the light, happy "All This Love" performed by Jeff Lorber, Joyce Cooling plays a beautifully sultry guitar on "A Song for You" -- one of my favourite tracks -- and Walter Beasley provides lead alto sax on "Free," accompanied by Lynette Gittens on vocals.

Van Morrison's "Moondance" is covered by Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilson. Piano wizard Alex Bugnon comes next with a new recording, "Love TKO," which has a sexy percussive beat and vocals courtesy of Ronnie Garret. Stevie Wonder's "That Girl" is covered by the Chicago Project (arranged and produced by Frayne's lead man, Frayne T. Lewis) with some nice trumpet and sax work, and the inimitable "Wonderful Tonight" resounds to Warren Hill's soaring saxophones and Jeff Golub's velvety lead guitar -- absolutely gorgeous! "Baby Come to Me" is performed by the Urban Knights (another arrangement and production by Frayne T. Lewis) and the album smooches down to a close with the lights dimmed but the bright sound of the David and Bacharach classic "What the World Needs Now" followed by Peter White's guitar rendition of "Everyday" (Buddy Holly).

Time to come up for air again -- this is the perfect seduction production!

- Rambles
written by Jenny Ivor
published 28 August 2004



Buy it from Amazon.com.