Bobby Lyle - Straight And Smooth

Artist: Bobby Lyle
Title Of Album: Straight And Smooth
Year Of Release: April 6, 2004
Label: Three Keys Music
Genre: Smooth Jazz / Piano
Bitrate: 192Kbps
Total Time: CD:51:46 min CD2:69:09 min
Total Size: 165 MB


Tracklist
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CD1:
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01. Tippin
02. Step in the Name of Love
03. La Clave - (Spanish)
04. Passion by the Sea
05. I'm Going to Love You Just a Little More Baby
06. Desert Ride
07. Road to Redemption
08. Hip Swing
09. Dance'n
10. Back Door
11. Easy Living


CD2:
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01. Song Is You, The
02. Nefertiti
03. New World Order
04. Wave, The
05. Yesterdays
06. Deep Six
07. There Is No Greater Love
08. Blues For Dexter
09. Bop to Bach
10. Body and Soul
11. Harlem Blues




Review: Every now and again an artist rises above the fray as a distinctive voice in the midst of chaotic noise turbulence. In the case of keyboardist Bobby Lyle, the command of jazz as a true measure of artistic intent allows him to practice his craft with a message. His latest release entitled 'Straight and Smooth' continues a journey that began with he, Herbie Hancock, Ramsey Lewis and the late Grover Washington, Jr. They were the pioneers of contemporary jazz, long before smooth jazz became the phenomenon it is today. In Bobby's mind: "The smooth jazz category is becoming a straightjacket. It's not broad enough. People want to pigeonhole artists and keep them in that box. Miles was open-minded enough to go to a Jimi Hendrix concert or go see Sly Stone. He saw the reaction and that was the audience he wanted." When Bobby recorded 'Straight and Smooth,' he was making a conscious effort to bridge the gap that was left in the wake of smooth jazz factions that were bent on watering down the intuitive creativity and spirit that comes from within.

Bobby's 2-disc offering is not smooth jazz by any stretch of categorization. It features a multi-faceted look at the contemporary side of the genre often heard during the '70s and early '80s, but with an additional twist. He also provides imagery, texture and imagination with an improvised approach to the straight ahead side of jazz. His three decade career as a performer, songwriter, producer, arranger, sideman, bandleader and producer allows him to speak with authority on the gospel according to everything unique and artistic about the music. There are incandescent grooves filled with rhythmic directives, all of which are designed to hone in on the depth of Bobby's creativity and skill on the keyboards. On the mellow side, tracks such as "Step In The Name of Love" and "Love You More" adds passion, sensuality and versatility to the album.


Although Bobby is often classified as a contemporary jazz artist, his straight ahead skills are definitely intact. He exhibits a keen sense of awareness as an improvisational technician, while reminding jazz connoisseurs of precedents established many years ago by the great master craftsmen. In more ways than one, Lyle has put together a panoramic view of jazz in patterns that have had the most impact over the last 30 years. He does so with fluid-like responses to harmonic and melodic questions we all have about jazz as a source of artistic interpretation. As a source of entertainment, Bobby does an excellent job of doing what music is supposed to be about. All in all, 'Straight and Smooth' is a CD that can put jazz music back into the mainstream of society without dulling the senses. Anyone who takes a listen will surely find something worth attaching themselves to.


Bobby Lyle (piano, keyboards); Frank Marshal, Werner Richmond (vocals); Jackiem Joyner, Kevin Levi, David Wells (saxophone); Aaron Broadus (trumpet); Jerry Petres (Fender Rhodes piano); Joe Wolfe (clavinet, synthesizer); Marcus Johnson (synthesizer); Marlon McClain (guitar); Abraham Laboriel (bass); Jay Williams, Ricky Lawson (drums).