Tom Scott & the L.A. Express - Smokin' Section

On Smokin' Section, credited to Tom Scott & the L.A. Express, the veteran saxman can't resist mixing in a few cover tunes with the stylistically diverse array of original numbers. He doesn't add too much to the arrangement of the folk-rock classic "Ode To Billie Joe," but who can argue when it's sung by the sandpaper-and-honey voiced Patty Smyth? Scott also functions as soloist/harmony line player as Phil Perry does his soulful best with Restless Heart's "I'll Still Be Lovin' You." Scott and his cohorts are all over the map the rest of the time, capturing everything from the now retro '70s flavor of the original L.A. Express to Scott's early leanings towards quartet jazz to -- as the title promises -- flashy brass funk and mindtripping fusion. Scott's alto honks above the swaying, horn section hook of the title track, then slinks into the background for much of the swampy Delta blues cool of "Cruisin' Bayou," which blends Alan Pasqua's Fender Rhodes-flavored synth riffs, Buzz Feiten's wailing steel guitar, and a soundscape by Luis Conte and Alex Acuña. The somewhat jarring rhythmic switches take the listener from the smoky mood of "If I Could Cry" to the swaying funk of "The Beat Is On" (pushed along by bassist John Pena), but the real fun comes on "TCB in E," when Scott, Pasqua, Feiten, and drummer Harvey Mason rock on and trade blistering solos for ten minutes, making '70s Rhodes-based jazz fusion relevant to 1999. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Sanderson Assistant Engineer Alan Pasqua Keyboards, Piano Alex Acuña Percussion Andre Berry Bass Bernie Grundman Mastering Chuck Berghofer Bass David Rideau Mixing, Engineer Dean Parks Guitar (Electric), Guitar (Acoustic) Gary Grant Trumpet George Bohannon Trombone Harvey Mason, Sr. Drums Howard "Buzz" Feiten Guitar (Electric) Howard Willing Assistant Engineer Joel Peskin Sax (Baritone) John Pena Bass Johnny Lee Design Kenji Nakai Engineer, Overdub Engineer Lenny Castro Percussion Luis Conte Percussion Lynne Scott Producer, Vocals Mitch Foreman Synthesizer Oscar Brashear Soloist, Trumpet Patty Nichols Production Coordination Patty Smyth Vocals Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar (Acoustic) Pete Christlieb Sax (Tenor) Peter Doell Assistant Engineer Phil Perry Vocals, Vocals (Background) Ralph MacDonald Percussion Randee Saint Nicholas Photography Robbie Nevil Guitar, Vocals (Background), Keyboards Sonny Mediana Art Direction Steve Dubin Arranger, Drum Programming, Producer, Keyboards, Percussion Programming Terry Wood Vocals Tim Heintz Synthesizer Tom Scott Arranger, Saxophone Arrangement, Horn, Strings, Sax (Soprano), Synthesizer, Woodwind, Saxophone, Sax (Tenor), Sax (Alto), Wind Synthesizer Tom Scott & the L.A. Express Performer Victor McCoy Assistant, Remix Assistant, Assistant Engineer Vinnie Colaiuta Drums Wah Wah Watson Guitar