Product Description One of today's leading contemporary saxophone artists, Gerald Albright has made his name with a musical voice that's lyrical, seductive, and deeply soulful. Those elements combine with funky rhythms and memorable melodies on New Beginnings, his debut album from Peak Records. Features keyboardists Jeff Lorber and Patrice Rushen, famed trumpeter Chris Botti, ace studio musician Chucki Booker, top guitarist Paul Jackson, Jr., and The Whispers. Universal. 2006. .com This CD finds the LA-born, smooth-jazz star Gerald Albright on a new label, with a new line of saxophones and a new home in Colorado. It's co-produced by some of his heavyweight contemporaries, including Jeff Lorber, Chuckii Booker, and Rex Rideout, and it features Albright's traveling band. All of the 12 tracks showcase Albright's assertive mix of Cannonball Adderley's bravura and Maceo Parker's funkiness--whether he's playing alto, baritone, tenor sax, or flute. His high school friend, Patrice Rushen, who let Albright steal the show with his burning solo on her 1982 single "Forget Me Nots," turns in a nice piano spotlight on the title track. The old Whispers hit "And the Beat Goes On" is reprised with that group's lead vocalists, and trumpeter Chris Botti's Milesiian trumpet leaves its footprint on "Big Shoes." Albright's rousing rendition of "Georgia on My Mind," shows why everybody, from Quincy Jones to Phil Collins, loves his sound. --Eugene Holley, Jr.
J**H
High quality album; a breath of fresh air at times
New Beginnings, reflects recent transitions in Gerald Albright's life, as he has moved from his longtime home of Los Angeles to the suburbs of Denver. This is Gerald's debut album on Peak Records (although it is his 9th solo studio release), and it is certainly one of the best albums of his well-established career.Take the lead track (and first radio single) "We Got the Groove," which is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. Gerald goes all out, playing not only alto and tenor sax, but also flute, bass, and bari sax as well. The bari sax in particular gives this song its unique flair - this is not your stereotypical smooth jazz song! After starting off with this truly unique track, the album contains a good balance of funky, under-produced, live-sounding jazzy pieces (such as "New Beginnings," "Georgia On My Mind," and "Big Shoes") and more heavily-produced, beat heavy, smooth jazz grooves (such as "Deep Into My Soul," "I Want Somebody," and "I Need You").There's a couple of cover tracks on the album, including the aforementioned "Georgia On My Mind" as well as a fantastic remake of "And the Beat Goes On" featuring two of the original members of The Whispers on background vocals.The list of producers on the album is solid: Jeff Lorber, Rex Rideout, Chuckii Booker, Luther "Mano" Hanes, and even Gerald himself on a few tracks. The Lorber-produced "Take Your Time" sounds like the musical continuation of the song "Sun Ra" from Lorber's album Flipside. Special guest artists include Chris Botti, Paul Jackson Jr., and Jeff Lorber (on both keys and guitar).The album ends on a perfect note, with a reprise of "Georgia On My Mind" that captures the fantastic feeling of hearing Gerald perform live. In total, there are 12 tracks on New Beginnings, and they are all worth listening to. Gerald Albright has had a very long and successful career in contemporary jazz, and New Beginnings shows that he still has a lot more to offer.This Review Copyrighted 2006 by J. Smith
L**N
Nice music
Beautiful music love the variety and some of the old school songs and good driving music or just sitting back and chill
G**.
Learning from the greats (those doing it for more than 30 yrs)
Product arrived early and in excellent condition. Used to teach students reprise jammin on Georgia on my Mind
L**D
Lovely beginning
As the CD title would suggest that smooth jazz stalwart Gerald Albright has indeed moved to a new lable, moreover, it would appear that this move has not damppened his enthauism, as this particular CD moves from strength to strength. Although some would argue that the vocals detract from the instrumentals, which would appear to be a rather persistent argument amongst listeners of jazz; however, I suspect that Mr. Albright and his producers have in this project found the balance between the two such that the entire collection is appealing and worthy of anyone's smooth jazz collection.
Y**.
Relaxing Music
I've enjoyed Gerald Albright jazz on this CD and you will not be disappointed either. This is an older CD but once you start listening to it seems as though he music just hit the charts. Can't stop listening to it once I started.
R**.
Wonderful Albright album!
One of his best works! Two versions of “Georgia on my Mind” is the only reason it’s not 5-Star. Lovin it!
K**R
A legend
The best saxophone artist in the world, I'll always get his cds
A**4
Five Stars
Great cd
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