One of the ways I know I\u2019m not a serious jazz critic: if I were, I\u2019m pretty sure I\u2019d be contractually obligated to dismiss and\/or disrespect this album.\u00a0 And I\u2019m not going to do either one.<\/p>\n
Eric Marienthal, who cut his teeth playing in Herbie Hancock\u2019s Elektric Band 20 years ago, is a smooth jazz saxophonist and in-demand session player.\u00a0\u00a0 Chances are you\u2019ve heard his work at some point on an album by Elton John or Billy Joel or Stevie Wonder or Barbra Streisand.\u00a0 If you\u2019re thinking that means he\u2019s got a full, clean, not-particularly-innovative tone, and dependably mainstream contemporary jazz-pop sensibilities, you\u2019re right on target.<\/p>\n
What it really comes down to is what you\u2019re looking to get out of the music.\u00a0 If you approach this disc looking for mind-blowingly unpredictable improvised solos over time signatures that make your vision blur, you\u2019re guaranteed to be disappointed.\u00a0 But if your thing is melody, if you enjoy a good hook well-played and are open to the possibility of the label \u201cbackground music\u201d NOT automatically being an insult, this disc is worth giving a chance.<\/p>\n
Just Around The Corner<\/i> features a series of Marienthal collaborations with three different producer-players \u2013 Brian Colbertson (keys), Stephen Lu (keys) and Jeff Lorber (guitars & keys).\u00a0 You might think this would create some disconnects, but the shifts from producer to producer between tracks are barely noticeable.<\/p>\n
The key here is that, while these tunes are indeed smooth and melodic, they also manage to showcase the considerable instrumental skills of Marienthal and his collaborators.\u00a0\u00a0 Favorites included the energetic opener \u201cBlue Water,\u201d where Marienthal and Culbertson trade licks and phrases; the appropriately urban-themed \u201c