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]
| Smooth | ||||
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 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1994 | |||
| Studio | Aire L.A. (Glendale, California)
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| Genre | R&B, jazz | |||
| Label | Atlantic[1] | |||
| Producer |
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| Gerald Albright chronology | ||||
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Production
editAlbright 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
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [13] |
| The Charlotte Observer | [14] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music | [15] |
| Los Angeles Times | [9] |
| MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide | [11] |
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
editSmooth was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for "Best Jazz Album".[17]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
edit- 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
edit- 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
edit- ^ 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.