FunkFreak75 Lonnie's second album since discarding his Cosmic Echoes (save for brother Donald) and his second for Columbia Records. Now 19-years old, full band member Marcus Miller gets to show off his talents as a bass player, arranger, and composer! Lonnie's conversion to a pop orientation, here both Disco, pop R&B and Smooth Jazz, is complete though there are still some very jazzy elements, threads, and arrangements within the songs--even among such smooth classics as "Quiet Moments." Marcus' two compositions, "Space Princess" and "Night Flower" both earned a lot of play: the former as a dance favorite at discotheques, the latter as another late night Adult Contemporary radio favorite. The album possesses excellent sound engineering and very engaging, mature, and skillful performances, especially in the richly-textured smooth jazz songs. Though hardcore jazz purists will detest this music, there can be no denying that Lonnie and company are master crafters of very engaging, eminently enjoyable music.

Lineup / Musicians: - Lonnie Liston Smith / Piano, Electric Piano, Producer - Marcus Miller / Bass - Steve Thornton / Congas, Percussion - Lino Reyes / Drums - Ronald D. Miller / Guitars With: - Donald Smith / Vocals (A1), Flute (A4, B2, B4) - David Hubbard / Flute (A4), Soprano Saxophone (B2, B4) - Butch Campbell / Rhythm guitar (B1) - Aurell Ray / 12-string guitar (B1)

A1. "Space Princess" (7:00) an awesome and very solid Disco dance tune with great fullness, flow, and vocals by both lead singer Donald Smith (Lonnie's brother) and the typical mix of Disco b vox. The "Copacabana" percussion palette in the instrumental fifth and sixth minutes is a bit distracting, but the vocal passages are quite winning. I can see why this would have been quite popular in the discotheques. (13.5/15)

A2. "Quiet Moments" (3:54) a stellar smooth jazz instrumental with a very simple but killer four-note piano melody and lush strings accompaniment (accomplished with one of Lonnie's keyboards?) Reminds me a lot of my father's smooth Ronnie Aldrich albums. Beautiful! (9.25/10)

A3. "Magical Journey" (4:58) more soulful funk/R&B smooth jazz that sounds very much like a cover of a pop song in the way Bob James or one of his stable of musicians might arrange. Solid, high quality; always nice to here Lonnie on the acoustic piano, but nothing ground-breaking here (other than some of Marcus Miller's bass licks and Lonnie's clavinet play). (8.875/10)

A4. "Exotic Mysteries" (5:00) rich lushness that sounds like it could be coming from one of Hubert Laws' lush funky albums of the same period (Flame). Between Marcus' bass play and Lonnie's Fender Rhodes, this song could really win, but there's just something "extra" missing. Not even the late-arriving flutes can elevate it (though they do in fact make it sound even more like something off of Hubert Laws' Flame). (8.875/10)

B1. "Singing for Love" (5:29) more smooth, easy listening jazz-funk with the always-welcome touch of brother Donald's vocals. However, neither the lyrics or melodies here are very good. In fact, it's almost like a repeat of the previous song: great palette and chemistry between the musicians but something intangible missing from the overall pastiche. It's almost like the band is struggling to find inspiring lyrics--forcing it when their "mind-expanding" slices of cosmic bliss from the Cosmic Echoes period were so successful (and, seemingly, effortless). Too bad cuz I do so love this sound palette. (8.75/10)

B2. "Mystical Dreamer (A Tribute to Miles Davis)" (6:00) lush keyboards supported by thin rhythm instrument presence opens this one before the band settles into a smooth jazz-funk motif with lots of subtleties coming from each and every one of the instrumentalists--as well as some cutting edge electronic piano effects--over which airy flutes soar peacefully. Lonnie's richly chorused and reverberated Fender Rhodes takes the lead in the third and fourth minutes. This would work if only the two-chord motif beneath would change, shift, or do something more interesting. (8.875/10)

B3. "Twilight" (1:28) (4.375/5)

B4. "Night Flower" (6:07) almost the same palette, feel, and sound as all of the Side Two songs! What happened to variation, Lonnie!? (8.75/10)

As a contributor to the "Classic" Jazz-Rock Fusion lexicon of the 70s, this is an excellent evidence of the skill and serious music-making attitude involved in the transition to Smooth Jazz though it also demonstrates a fairly complete and unapologetic commitment to said sub-genre of Jazz. It is without a doubt beautiful and still-sophisticated music!

B/four stars; a lovely sound to have as background music behind your evening activities but nothing really remarkable beyond the opening two songs.