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1994 studio album by Gerald Albright
Smooth is the fourth studio album by the American musician
Gerald Albright , released in 1994 on
Atlantic Records .
[2]
[3] The album peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard
Top R&B Albums chart and No. 2 on both the Billboard
Jazz Albums and
Contemporary Jazz Albums charts.
[4]
Production
Albright strove to create an
R&B album; in addition to saxophone, he also played flute and keyboards.
[5]
[6]
Vesta Williams ,
Lalah Hathaway , and
Will Downing are among the many vocalists on the album.
[7]
[8]
[9]
Howard Hewett sang on the cover of "
This Is for the Lover in You ".
[10]
Stanley Clarke played bass on "Sedona".
[11] The liner notes were written by
Magic Johnson .
[12]
Critical reception
The
Los Angeles Times wrote that "Albright offers predictably melodic, safe solos that, for the most part, fail to engage the listener."
[9] The
Daily Breeze determined that Albright "turns in softly percussive, overly slick readings of soul-jazz mood pieces... He ignores chances to improvise or offer inventive ideas."
[16]
The Charlotte Observer deemed the album "Albright's breakthrough work," writing that "it's obvious Albright has put a lot of energy into this effort."
[14]
The Buffalo News considered the music "full of slinky rhythms, gossamer textures and sensuous, lazy melodies."
[12]
AllMusic called the album "a tasty if somewhat typical journey through the land of quiet storm and light funk."
[13]
Accolades
Smooth was nominated for a
Soul Train Music Award for "Best Jazz Album".
[17]
Track listing
Title Writer(s) 1. "Don't Worry About It" Gerald Albright 4:33 2. "I Surrender" Albright 5:.50 3. "Sweet Baby" Albright, Arvel McClinton 5:11 4. "
This Is for the Lover in You "
Howard Hewett , Dana Meyers 4:44 5. "G & Lee" Albright 6:31 6. "Just 2 B with You" Albright,
Chuckii Booker 5:08 7. "Anniversary"
Raphael Saadiq , Carl Wheeler 4:33 8. "Passion" Albright, Travon Potts 6:21 9. "Sedona" Albright, Potts 5:36 10. "Say It with Feeling" Albright 5:36
Personnel
Gerald Albright – tenor saxophone (1, 2, 10), keyboards (1, 2, 10), bass guitar (1, 2, 6), drum programming (2),
EWI (2, 10), alto saxophone (3-5, 7-9),
flute (4), soprano saxophone (5, 6)
Chuckii Booker – keyboards (1-4, 6, 7), drum programming (1, 4, 6, 7), backing vocals (7)
Arvel McClinton – keyboards (3), drum programming (3), backing vocals (3)
Patrick Moten – keyboards (5, 10)
Derek Nakamoto – strings (5, 9, 10)
Travon Potts – keyboards (8, 9), drum programming (8, 9)
Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (9)
Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (1, 2, 10), rhythm guitar (5)
Lee Ritenour – lead guitar (5)
Melvin Lee Davis – bass guitar (5)
Stanley Clarke –
piccolo bass solo (9)
Freddie Washington – bass (10)
Land Richards – drums (9, 10)
Vesta Williams – vocals (1), backing vocals (1)
Pattie Howard – backing vocals (1)
Olivia McClurkin – backing vocals (1)
Alfie Silas – backing vocals (1)
Lalah Hathaway – vocals (2), backing vocals (2)
Howard Hewett – backing vocals (4)
Will Downing – vocals (6), backing vocals (6)
Production
Raymond A. Shields – executive producer, management
Gerald Albright – producer, recording (1, 3, 6, 7), assistant engineer (1-3, 5, 6, 8-10)
Arvel McClinton – producer (3)
Chuckii Booker – producer (7)
Travon Potts – producer (8, 9)
Kevin Kadel – recording (1, 2, 4-6, 8-10, mixing (6)
Anthony Jefferies – mixing (1-5, 7), recording (5, 9, 10)
Dave Pensado – mixing (8)
Craig Burbidge – mixing (9, 10)
Ray Silva – assistant engineer
Kevin D. Lewis – production coordinator
Elizabeth Barrett – art direction
Louise O'Brien – photography
Daniel Schridde – photography
Magic Johnson – liner notes
References
^ Norment, Lynn (May 1994). "Sounding Off". Ebony . Vol. 49, no. 7. p. 23.
^
"Gerald Albright Biography, Songs, & Albums" . AllMusic .
^ Bacon, Tony; Gelly, Dave (August 29, 2000).
Masters of Jazz Saxophone . Hal Leonard Corporation.
^
"Gerald Albright Chart History" . Billboard .
^ Pilato, Bruce (September 23, 1994). "Gerald Albright Keeps It Nice and Smooth". USA Today .
^ "Five touring performers joining forces...". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . November 13, 1994. p. 1E.
^ Hasson, Bill (August–September 1994). "Earworthy". American Visions . Vol. 9, no. 4. p. 49.
^ Bourne, Kay (12 Jan 1995). "Orpheum to host jazzman Albright". Bay State Banner . No. 17. p. 14.
^
a
b
c Stewart, Zan (8 May 1994). "Gerald Albright, 'Smooth' ". Calendar. Los Angeles Times . p. 51.
^ Joyce, Mike (3 June 1994). "Festival Artists Keep the Beat". The Washington Post . p. N19.
^
a
b MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide . Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 9.
^
a
b Kunz, Mary (August 5, 1994). "Silky". The Buffalo News . p. G10.
^
a
b
"Gerald Albright Smooth" . AllMusic .
^
a
b "Jazz". The Charlotte Observer . July 1, 1994. p. 7F.
^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music . Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 101.
^ Tranfa, Anthony D. (April 22, 1994). "Gerald Albright, 'Smooth' ". Daily Breeze . p. K11.
^ Maples, Tina (12 Mar 1995). "Soul Train Awards hurtles toward a switch". The Milwaukee Journal . p. E3.