In addition to cultivating
smooth jazz
mainstays like
Kim Waters
,
Pamela Williams
Ken Navarro
Chuck Loeb
, and
Chieli Minucci
Shanachie Entertainment
has scored big these past few years with a series of urban-oriented collections that run the gamut from
Smooth Jazz Brown Sugar
to gatherings of
R&B
/
hip-hop
covers (
Streetwize
Tha Hot Club
). With this collection, which features saxmen
Waters
and
David Mann
(who also produces) and guitarist
Rodney Jones
, the label mines the romantic riches of the old school. With the ultra-
funk
exceptions of the brass-inflected
Marvin Gaye
classics
"After the Dance"
"I Want You,"
the set is geared around slow and steady seduction -- a sexy dance followed by whatever the listener has in mind later for his or her dance partner. There's nothing particularly innovative or unique in the arrangements of these
ballads
, but then again, that doesn't seem to be their point. Everybody loves these songs, and they provide spotlights for the principal musicians while making for some nice late-night
soul
swaying. ~ Jonathan Widran