Kenny Garrett - Simply Said (1999)

There's no denying that Kenny Garrett is a tremendous saxophonist, whether on alto or the much less manageable sopranino and soprano. But Garrett established this fact long before this odd mix of tunes. His Triology was a sophisticated, intricate pianoless trio date, and Pursuance was a moving, apt tribute to John Coltrane. So Simply Said isn't about Garrett's talent, and that's too bad. The music's consistently mired in what seems confusion. Does the saxophonist want to be considered an ace smooth-jazzer? Too often, there's only the acoustic band setting--with pianists Shedrick Mitchell or Mulgrew Miller, drummers Chris Dave or Jeff Watts, and even Pat Metheny--to set this apart from synth-enhanced pop jazz. If Garrett envisions this as his smooth jazz record, it's entirely stronger than most music in that genre. But if it's to be considered in light of Garrett's other work, it's a distinct disappointment. The melodies are too simply stated to be memorable, the saxophones too thin and their phrases not even dented with the convolutions Garrett's earlier work hints at. If it's the burning, creative Garrett you're after, this recording is probably going to be a bummer for you. But if you're wondering what this Kenny "G" can add to the smooth mix, then the good truth is Simply Said here. -- Andrew Bartlett