Smooth Urban Grooves is an edgy, jazzed-up compilation of songs written by some of today's most prolific pop, hip-hop, and R&B hit songwriters. If there was any doubt as to whether the songs of hip-hop culture could transcend the genre, then this compilation by
the Soul Providers featuring
Bob Baldwin serves notice that a hit song can make it in any idiom as long as it's in the hands of a creative musician. The ensemble created exciting new arrangements of such songs as
Jay-Z's mega hit "Encore,"
Nelly's "My Place," and monster hits by
Mariah Carey. The
Usher/
Lil Jon/
Ludacris composition titled "Lovers and Friends" retains its soulful ballad ways, while the addition of certain jazz elements delivered from
Baldwin's keyboards and the soulful horn charts played to the hilt by
Nelson Rangell and
Marion Meadows give a whole new urban jazz feeling to "Hate It or Love It," originally written by
the Game. Additional songs by
50 Cent,
John Legend,
Mariah Carey,
Anthony Hamilton,
Alicia Keys, and
Kanye West make this compilation an enjoyable listen, so get your groove on. ~ Paula Edelstein