Wayman Tisdale Power Forward CD

At this point, Wayman Tisdale was better known as a one of the NBA's tough power forwards, a position often described as the equivalent to hockey's enforcer, but on the jazz tip Tisdale's silky smooth and a purveyor of mature romanticism. He's not a virtuoso on any of the instruments he plays (yet) -- bass guitar, keyboards, or the synthesizer -- but records with an all-star cast of musicians who mask any shortcomings. In fact, Tisdale contributes more on his recordings than those done in the past by Idris Muhammad, Norman Connors, and others. He plays, sings, and produces in addition to writing six of the tracks. Brian Knight, the main producer, keeps everything hearts and flowers; two songs have female names as titles. A cucumber-cool aura makes "Circumstances" most arresting, and he employs the same plucky bass play on "Passion." Others that impress are "Danger Zone" and two with b-ball derived titles: "After the Game" and "Power Forward," the latter aggressively avant-garde, á la Albert Ayers and John Coltrane. A braying sax dominates "Inside Stuff," and Brian Knight's "You" is the meatiest vocal. ~ Andrew Hamilton

Includes liner notes by Steve McKeever.

Engineers include: Otto D'Agnolo, Donnell Sullivan, J.R. Swinga.

Personnel: Wayman Tisdale (vocals, keyboards, synthesizer, drum programming); J.R. Swinga (vocals, keyboards, vocoder, drums, programming, drum programming); Freddy Jones, Kipper Jones, Val Young (vocals); Bobby Gonzales (guitar, acoustic guitar); Robert Brookins (guitar, piano); Tommy O., William Patterson (guitar); Kenny Garrett (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Tom Braxton (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Derrick Edmondson (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Eddie M. (alto saxophone); Kenneth Crouch (keyboards, synthesizer, programming, drum programming); Don Blackman (keyboards, synthesizer); Alex Alessandroni, Art Dixie (keyboards); John Paris (drums, drum programming); Flip Kirby, Lenny White (drums); Timbali Cornwell, Tim Cornwell (percussion); Dawnn Lewis (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: Craig Burbidge; J.R. Swinga; Booker T. Jones.

Liner Note Author: Steve McKeever.

Recording information: Ch^ton Studios; Criteria Recording Studios; Double Trouble Studios, Miami, FL; Tisway Studios, Paradise Valley, AZ.

Photographer: Aaron Rapoport.

Arrangers: Kenneth Crouch; Kipper Jones.

Personnel includes: Wayman Tisdale (vocals, keyboards, bass, programming); J.R. Swinga (vocals, vocoder, keyboards, programming); Brian McKnight (vocals, keyboards, programming); Kipper Jones, Val Young, Brian Morgan (vocals); Kenny Garrett (soprano & alto saxophones); Tom Braxton (soprano & tenor saxophones); Art "Mr. Freddyman" Dixie (Hammond B-3 organ, vocoder, keyboards, programming); Robert Brookins (Fender Rhodes, synthesizer); Kenneth Crouch (keyboards, programming); Bobby "G" Gonzales (acoustic guitar, guitar); Marcus Miller (bass); John Paris (drums, programming); Tim "Timbali" Cornwell (percussion).

Producers include: J.R. Swinga, Kenneth Crouch, Kipper Jones, Wayman Tisdale, Art "Mr. Freddyman" Dixie.