Mindi Abair Come As You Are CD

Personnel: Mindi Abair (vocals, flute, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, keyboards, cymbals, shaker, tambourine, hand claps); Mindi Abair; Matthew Hager (guitars, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, bass instrument, hand claps, percussion, programming, background vocals); Mike Landau, Dan Marfisi, Ty Stevens (guitars); Michael Landau (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Dan Marfisi (acoustic guitar); T.M. Stevens (electric guitar, wah-wah guitar, programming); Anatoly Rosinsky, Julie Rogers (violin); Brett Banduci (viola); Kevan Torfeh (cello); Lance Abair, Lance Abair (tenor saxophone); David Woodford (baritone saxophone); Lee Thornburg (trumpet, trombone); Ricky Peterson (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer piano, organ, Wurlitzer organ); Stan Sergeant (bass instrument); Stan Sargeant (upright bass, fretless bass); Bud Harner (hi-hat); Russell Ferrante (piano); Jamey Tate, Steve Ferrone (drums); Luis Conte (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Steve Sykes.
Recording information: 76 Steps Studios, Hollywood, CA; Castle Oaks Studios, Calabasas, CA; Glenwood Place Studios, Burbank, CA.
Photographers: Chapman Baehler; Jeff Bender.
Smooth jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair delivers a laid-back and sensual performance on Come As You Are. More pop than jazz, Abair plays mostly melody lines and the occasional bluesy aside. The album consists largely of dance- and groove-oriented numbers, although Abair does take some charming vocal turns on the mellow ballads "Every Time," "I Can Remember," and the Latin-inflected "You'll Never Know." To these ends, Abair has a soft and elfin voice reminiscent of the Cardigans' Nina Persson, and the combination of her vocals, sax chops, and cover girl good looks makes for a compelling package. Fans of similarly inclined artists such as Candy Dulfer and Dave Koz should find much to enjoy here. ~ Matt Collar