Timeagain
It's not hyperbole to say that this is Sanborn's best record since his Warner Brothers heyday of the '80s. The same can be said of the quality of the musicians gathered for the alto saxophonist's first album for Verve. The material may be the best he's ever assembled, with many cover tunes that are singularly identified with other artists, yet he redefines them. None of those words are meant to disparage those Grammy-winning gold albums of yore, it just his high standards have been magnified many fold on these 10 tracks. From the absolutely smoke-any-kind-of groove all-star band featuring a wailingRussell Maloneon guitar,Christian McBrideon bass,Mike MainierifromSteps Aheadon vibes, and Sanborn's longtime keyboard player,Ricky Peterson, to the sterling arrangements of re-imaged classics, includingStevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" done as a ballad and the timeless "Harlem Nocturne" spiced with world music overtones, this record sparkles. "Comin' Home Baby" and "Christo Redentor," songs made famous in the '60s byHerbie MannandDonald Byrdrespectively, are interpreted with such passion and fire, it's as if the melodies have belonged to Sanborn the whole time. His exquisite alto tone shines throughout the proceedings, and Malone just shows off on "Sugar," and one of three Sanborn originals, "Spider B."--Mark Ruffin