Ray Chew - Blue Crystal (Remastered) (2019)

Fingers of fire keyboardist Ray Chew seems to take a cue from the likes of Joe McBride, Bobby Lyle and Pieces of a Dream in artfully fusing funk, jazz and elegance on his ultrasmooth debut Blue Crystal . While he only partially delivers on the improvisational promise of the first track "Save It," Chew goes all out to demonstrate his prowess in the the attractive area where lighthearted groovin' meets an energetic synth rack. Experimenting with the textures behind the acoustic piano throughout (the Rhodes feel of "Servitude" is a retro treat), it's as if Chew is watching the clock move from afternoon to midnight, adjusting mood and vibe accordingly. Letting the tunes run long allows for some animated stretch out time. He does, however, fall into certain "pay attention to a new artist" traps by including so-so vocals and cover tunes. It's testament to the solid introduction of a fine composer instrumentalist that said vocal inclusions by Valerie Simpson and Gerald Alston slow the pace ever so slightly, and the Stevie Wonder tune doesn't really add much.