It's hard to deny that saxophonist
Gerald Albright often gave up playing "jazz" -- at least the snob definition -- in favor of urban radio and smooth jazz radio acceptance. During his years on the Atlantic label (1987-1997), his full-lengths contained big hits surrounded by lackluster songs. The exception was the "real jazz" album (snob definition again)
Live at Birdland West, which kicked up the excitement a notch. After leaving Atlantic his first record for GRP,
Groovology, was freer and more fun. Maybe it wasn't "real jazz," but it was really good. Nothing was so sweet and staid that it made you wince and the excitement was certainly back.
Kickin' It Up continues along these lines, and if it isn't as well constructed as
Groovology, it will at least keep the
Albright faithful coming back.
Albright still plays the jazz-pop that's kept him in the money, but once again he adds little flourishes and playful embellishments that are the textbook definition of jazz. A rotating group of musicians keeps the album from having any honest live feeling (no one ever "responds" to any of the other musicians), and there's almost as much drum programming as there is real drumming. The various groupings at least sound tight, and whenever
Albright is coupled with
Jeff Lorber he's extra effervescent. Former
Boyz II Men vocalist
Shawn Stockman pillow talks his way through the
Brian McKnight-penned "Condition of My Heart" better than
Justin Guarini did, and
Albright's inspired arrangement and performance of
John Mayer's "Why Georgia" captures the wistful, wandering spirit of the original. A couple formulaic numbers keep the record from being a total success, but there's less of it than during his worst Atlantic days and every song has at least one eyebrow-raising passage. The jazz elite will refuse to recognize him until he delivers another
Birdland West, but they're missing his new voice, and judging by how comfy he sounds here, he probably shouldn't go back. Since going with GRP
Albright finally added comfortable and freewheeling to amiable, smooth, and relaxed. A fair album -- like this one -- from the new
Albright beats a very good one from the old, controlled
Albright. ~ David Jeffries