Jeff Lorber - Philly Style (2003)

The soul-jazz minded keyboardist has been a legendary pop-fusion and smooth-jazz artist for several decades, and producer Steven Dubin had been a huge smooth-jazz force for several years (working with Peter White, Richard Elliot and Najee). The two Philadelphia natives never crossed paths (despite having gone to the same high school and played the same clubs), however, until Lorber hired him to work on his album Kickin' It. This disc continues the fun, feisty and funky retro-soul vibe of that disc in an even fuller celebration of their Phillyness. Lorber is so well known for his old school Rhodes textures (which were "new school" when he first did them in the 70s) that it's nice to hear so much classy acoustic piano here, as on the seductive, horn drenched opening track "Under Wraps." Lorber uses the Rhodes as an underpinning harmony, but his ivory soloing is what makes the tune shimmer. The hooky title track collaboration with Elliot offers the same type of vibe, with brass and piano soloing galore before a break in the action, where Lorber turns fully to his Rhodes mastery, punching along with the horns. He keeps the Rhodes-sax duetting with rising horns process going on the well titled "Soul Food," which features vocalist Naila. "Laissez Faire" is all laid back cool, as is the mystical acoustic piano ballad "When She Smiles," while the centerpiece jam "Uncle Darrow's" captures the classic Rhodes centered Crusaders flavor with a crisp horn-harmony-duality provided by Gary Meek (sax) and Ron King (trumpet). It's kind of hard to imagine that any Jeff Lorber disc isn't truly Philly-styled, but it's nice to see he's finally acknowledging that influence more directly. ~ Jonathan Widran