Gerald Albright - New Beginnings

Title: New Beginnings Artist: Gerald Albright Release Date: 3/28/2006 Label: Peak Records UPC: 013431854029 Genre: Jazz Styles: Adult Contemporary, Jazz-Pop, Crossover Jazz, Smooth Jazz, Jazz Instrument, Saxophone Jazz Moods: Elegant, Intimate, Refined/Mannered, Reserved, Romantic, Smooth, Soothing, Gentle, Laid-Back/Mellow Total Copies: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. We Got the Groove
2. New Beginnings
3. Deep into My Soul
4. And the Beat Goes On
5. Georgia on My Mind
6. Take Your Time
7. I Want Somebody
8. You Are My Love
9. Last But Not Least
10. I Need You
11. Big Shoes
12. Georgia on My Mind (Reprise)

Year Type Label Catalog # 2006 CD Peak Records 8540

New Beginnings [Bonus Track]

Make no mistake: Gerald Albright has chops -- serious chops -- not to mention strong improvisational skills (on both tenor and alto sax) and a healthy amount of gritty, down-home soulfulness. But having a lot of positive attributes and actually making the most of them are two different things -- and while the saxman has excelled at times (1991's Live at Birdland West remains his most essential disc), he has also delivered his share of forgettable, knee-jerk fluff (1989's Bermuda Nights and 1990's Dream Come True were among the worst offenders). Drawing on both soul-jazz and smooth jazz, New Beginnings is a mixed bag that isn't in a class with Live at Birdland West but is still one of his more worthwhile commercial outings. There are some weak tracks, to be sure; Albright's note-for-note cover of the Whispers' 1979 hit "And the Beat Goes On" pales in comparison to the original version -- and a few other automatic-pilot tracks are equally boring. But when Albright lets loose, New Beginnings becomes a treat that brings to mind Grover Washington, Jr. and early Ronnie Laws rather than Najee, Kenny G., or George Howard. Albright really soars on a gospel-drenched performance of Hoagy Carmichael's "Georgia on My Mind," and he has some enjoyably funky moments on "Big Shoes" and "We Got the Groove" (both of which keyboardist Jeff Lorber co-wrote with the saxman) as well as the title track (which features Patrice Rushen on acoustic piano). Is Albright capable of much more than what he does on New Beginnings? No question. Albright is quite capable of providing a five-star masterpiece, which New Beginnings is not. Nonetheless, this 2006 release has more pluses than minuses -- and it is certainly superior to Dream Come True, Bermuda Nights, and some of the other duds he recorded for Atlantic in the '80s and '90s. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Andi Howard Executive Producer Anthony Jeffries Engineer, Mixing Carl Studna Photography Chris Botti Trumpet Chuckii Booker Arranger, Vocals (Background), Keyboards, Engineer, Producer, Drum Programming Darrell Crooks Guitar David Rideau Engineer Gerald Albright Arranger, Flute, Drum Programming, Bass, Producer, Sax (Tenor), Sax (Alto), Sax (Baritone), Engineer, Guitar (Bass) Jeff Lorber Arranger, Drum Programming, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Engineer Luther "Mano" Hanes Keyboards, Producer, Vocals (Background), Arranger Mark Wexler Executive Producer Marlon McClain Guitar Melvin Davis Bass, Guitar (Bass) Patrice Rushen Piano Paul Jackson, Jr. Guitar Phil Collins Liner Notes Rex Rideout Keyboards, Drum Programming, Producer, Arranger, Engineer Sonny Mediana Art Direction Steve Hall Mastering Teddy Campbell Drums Tracy Carter Arranger, Keyboards, Engineer Wallace "Scotty" Scott Vocals Walter Scott Vocals