Kickin It Up
Seventies jazz/funk fusion pioneerJeff Lorberhas hooked up with Albright for half of these tracks; that's appropriate because Albright's sound has a direct lineage from the past. He is the leading light continuing down the path blazed byHank Crawford,King Curtis, andDavid Sanborn. Highlights here are the driving, hard-hitting tunes Lorber and Albright have produced together. The funkiest of the lot are "On the One," "Throw Yo' Hands," and "To the Max." Albright also displays the influence of Motown sax starJr. Walkerwith "Walker's Theme." Like Walker, who covered acts ranging from theGuess Whoto theCrusaders, Albright is very clever in his cover choices, with interpretations of the music ofHarold Melvin,Brian McKnight, and a very interesting version ofJohn Mayer's "Why Georgia," featuringPeter White. This is Albright's best effort in a decade.--Mark Ruffin