Just in time for
David Sanborn's 75th birthday, England's Soul Music label delivers the goods with a remastered, three-disc, 46-track overview of the saxophonist's iconic Warner Bros./Elektra period, which netted no less than 17 charting albums -- in a row. While the vast majority made the upper rungs of the jazz and/or smooth jazz charts, some attained places in the higher reaches of the Top 200. None of this material is unreleased, but this collection goes far deeper, given its length and scope, than any other
Sanborn compilation. Further, it was curated aesthetically rather than chronologically by Los Angeles-based musicologist and set producer and annotator A. Scott Galloway. He carefully and judiciously offers radio edits of singles alongside full versions.
By the time
Sanborn signed with Warner in 1974, he had been a traveling professional musician for 15 years. He began at the age of 14 with
Albert King and
Little Milton, then served in the
Paul Butterfield Blues Band from 1967 to 1971. After leaving, he undertook a long and influential apprenticeship with
the Brecker Brothers before releasing his solo debut,
Taking Off, in 1975. The first disc in this set is subtitled "New York Dave & the Cali-Crossover Express." It explores the driving jazz-funk and early examples of smooth jazz. "Flight" is an intense opener that showcases the saxist going head-to-head with strings and layers of percussion. There's the classic proto-smooth jazz reading of
Leon Russell's "This Masquerade," the orchestral rendition of folk standard "The Water Is Wide" with vocalist
Linda Ronstadt, the dancefloor burner "Anything You Want," and resonant ballads including "Carly's Song" and the sublime radio edit of "Lesley Ann." The disc closes with a live version of "Smile" from
Sanborn.
Disc two, entitled "Sanborn: Soul Man," is massively funky. Commencing with a slick, synth-heavy "High Roller," featuring greasy New Orleans piano from
Dr. John, it also includes a live version of
Al Green's "Love and Happiness" with vocalist
Hamish Stuart. This is a striking example of
Sanborn's canny ability to offer blues and gospel through the refracted musical prism of hard bop and soul. There are fine edits of the shimmering yet rubbery "Chicago Song" and "Got to Give It Up." This disc is not absent some wonderful balladry, however. Also included is
Sanborn's incomparable take on soul classic "Neither One of Us."
The final disc, titled "Evening Ember Essence," mixes groove-laden quiet storm tracks and polished smooth jazz in a sensual play list. It includes tender ballads such as "Benny" juxtaposed with atmospheric and meditative pieces like "It's You,"
Marcus Miller's "Naked Moon" (from 1999's
Inside), and
Don Grolnick's "Lotus Blossom" (from the 1984 live set
Straight to the Heart). There are wonderfully arranged versions of standards including "Come Rain or Come Shine," and "For All We Know," and a poignant read of
Lou Reed's "Jesus" from 1992's uncharacteristic
Another Hand. The set includes complete track credits, a historical and critical essay by Galloway, and new commentary from
Sanborn,
Marcus Miller,
Hal Willner, and others. ~ Thom Jurek