Richard Tee - Real Time (2012 Japan Edition)

Richard Tee appeared on more than 400 albums as a sideman, including longtime stints with Roberta Flack and Aretha Franklin. It should be no surprise, then, that the music heard on this last album before his death in 1993 should have elements of soul, funk, and gospel. Real Time is what could be called a swaying album. It can be danced to, but the performances are so low-key and sincere that dancers would only have to stay in place and sway to the music. In addition to his usual spells on the piano and keyboards, Tee sings in a slow, soulful voice that adds to the peacefulness of the proceedings. There's no shouting on this disk. The vocalizing is especially ear-catching on "I Miss You My Love" and "Without You." Even on "That's the Way of the World," a funky piece where the pace picks up a bit and the rhythm is more pointed, considerable restraint by the players is shown. This track features smoking guitar by Eric Gale. As on many of the cuts, strings are present, and they contrast nicely with the funky goings-on. Not all of the tunes are Tee originals; there are a couple of standards. On one, "My Funny Valentine," the demeanor changes considerably. Tee steps back from his keyboards as he improvises around the melody line on piano. "Take the 'A' Train" has classical overtones, with rippling trills, runs, and arpeggios letting snippets of the melody sneak in during this eight-and-a-half-minute track that explores variations on a theme. With longtime associate Steve Gadd on drums and Will Lee on bass, augmented from time to time by horns and guitar, this is a fine album by a performer who had more influence on fellow musicians than most realize.