Smoothjazz.com Review
Sandy Shore | Monterey, CA | 06/16/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"At last... The long anticipated follow up to J Thompson's 2003 Smooth Jazz hit debut CD, ROMANTIC NIGHT. The San Francisco Bay Area guitarist has been busy creating this new soulful project over the past few years by turning inward first... According to the artist on his website, "These days we all need some time to escape into our own place to take a breather from the stress of every day life. Music can really cure and energize the soul." From there, J moved outward and gathered together some fine players including keyboardist Peter Horvath, drummer, Oscar Seaton, percussionist Louis Conte and special performances by Norton Buffalo. INSIDE WORLD is an organic romp into Smooth Jazz with a retro spin and a dash of blues and funk. Fans of the SJ genre will love the radio friendly "Marché Marché" (the project's first single), the crisp and relaxed, "Tale of Tiernan," and the romantic, "Dreamer." All the while Thompson is sure to lure you into the album's other cool tunes, like the strolling blues of "Cincy In The City," featuring the harmonica of Norton Buffalo, the CD's inviting vocal (which happens to be the title track) featuring J singing with smoky intimacy, and the funky "Gimme Sum." There's more than one track featuring Buffalo's harp, and the combo of that sound with Thompson's guitar is synergistic... This is a smoothly diverse, enjoyable, Smooth Jazz meets Americana effort from one of the most innovative players we know. ~SANDY SHORE"