Golden Slumbers: A Father's Lullaby
This is a real sleeper of an album, literally. Smooth-jazz musicians--includingPeter White,Dave Koz,Norman Brown,David Benoit, and others--play music here to put babies to sleep. Fans of New Age music, specifically what came out of the Pacific Northwest in the '80s, may find many of these 14 tracks reminiscent of that period. Long-time listeners of smooth-jazz radio may be reminded of the kind of ethereal, spacey music that was played in the early days of the format. Many of the songs are as obvious asBrian Culbertson's somnambulating "Brahms' Lullaby" and Koz's "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star," but some are inspired choices with creative arrangements and strong performances. Koz and his brother Jeff shine on theBeatles' title tune and the other Lennon/McCartney chestnut, "Blackbird." Brown's take onJames Taylor's "You Can Close Your Eyes" is also moving, while not straying from the stillness of the concept. Perhaps the standout track is the superb performance of vocalist John Stoddart onStevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely."--Mark Ruffin