Gregg Kofi Brown spent two decades as guitarist and singer with the pioneering band Osibisa, who mixed rock and African music. But you'd hardly recognize that history in this star-studded jazz/soul lite workout. It peeks through occasionally, most obviously on "Aya A," featuring Brazilian percussionist Airto Moreira. For the most part, however, Brown himself is lost among the welter of big names and largely anonymous music. "World Spirit" has a slight "What's Goin' On" vibe, and "Wake Up the Morning" has some passion in the vocals of Gabrielle and Des'Ree, but for the most part there's a slick, surface blandness to the music, never more so than on Sting's cloying "Lullabye to an Anxious Child," featuring the man himself. For all the guest stars, a decent, memorable tune is hard to come by here. It's background music for a dinner party, unobtrusive and inoffensive. It makes all the right noises, but never hits home.
© Chris Nickson /TiVo