FunkFreak75
Recorded At CBS Studios, New York / Soundmixers, New York City and released by Bob's fledgling record label, Tappan Zee, I commend Bob for finally putting together an album entirely made up of his own compositions. Bravo!
A1. "Angela (Theme From "Taxi")" (5:42) a sappy-saccharine song that even bugged me when it came out. (Having never owned a television, I've never seen a single episode of the iconic series.) I will grant a respectful acknowledgement of the skills exhibited by Bob and his studio crew to create such an universally-beloved song. (8.75/10)
A2. "Touchdown" (5:42) a pre-Disco or pseudo-disco song that I remember hearing in the discothèques but never really generated as much interest or participation from the dance crowds--most likely due to its lack of singing & lyrics as well to its more laid-back pace and feel. It did, I think, generate a growth in popularity for saxophonist Dave Sanborn. (8.75/10)
A3. "I Want To Thank You (Very Much)" (7:09) opening with a kind of Rat Pack jazz-pop horn play before quickly succumbing to the Fender Rhodes and acoustic guitar Smooth Jazz sound that would become such signatures of both Bob and guitarist Earl Klugh. Awesome solo flute play in the fifth minute from Hubert Laws. (13.25/15)
B1. "Sun Runner" (6:16) a great happy-go-lucky Jazz-Rock Fusion classic from a whole band with excellent performances from Hubert Laws, Ralph MacDonald, Earl Klugh, and, of course, Bob. Great song construct with sophisticated arrangements and awesome earworm chord progressions. (9.25/10)
B2. "Caribbean Nights" (9:22) highlights of this epic-length tune that I used to play to death in the early 1980s are 1)Hiram Bullock's vocal matching of his guitar solo in the opening section, 2) Bob's great Fender Rhodes play next, 3) the sublime dual performances of Earl Klugh's nylon string guitar with Hubert Laws masterful flute in the fifth and sixth minutes, 4) the whole-band recapitulation of the main theme in the seventh minute, and 5) the horn section with Hubert's swallow-like flute in the bridge before the finale (in which Ron Carter solos briefly with his piccolo bass). (19/20)
Total Time: 34:20
A-/five stars; a minor masterpiece of Smooth Jazz and one of the truly defining and exemplary samples of that new (and dominant) genre.
