Philip Bailey Soul On Jazz CD

Ira Coleman (acoustic bass); David Dyson (bass); Billy Kilson (drums); Don Alias (congas, percussion); Daniel De Los Reyes (congas); DJ Smash (programming); David Whitworth, Charmaine Cousins, Billy Baker, Robert Brookins (background vocals).

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio Cd players.

There was a strong jazz vibe running through some of Philip Bailey's sides with Earth, Wind & Fire. On Soul on Jazz, his second release for Heads Up International, co-producer Bailey remakes several jazz standards, some with new lyrics by his son, Sir Bailey. The foray is most successful on Thelonious Monk's "Ruby My Dear," a percussive take on Gene McDaniels' "Compared to What," and Joe Zawinul's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy." R&B and jazz stylishly intersect on the smooth airy ballad "Unrestrained." Bailey redoes the EWF classic "Keep Your Head to the Sky," giving it a mellow sheen that's close to one of his past cuts, "Children of the Ghetto." On that and his dusky cover of Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story" and the loopy "Bop-Skip-Doodle," Bailey flexes his legendary falsetto. More jazz-oriented than Dreams, Soul on Jazz benefits from the sharing of production chores with Myron McKinley, Bob Belden, and Scott Kinsey. The album is definitely on track. ~ Ed Hogan

6th Rel;Guests-DJ Smash,Don Alias,John Hart,Ronnie Cuber++

Recorded at Bennett Studios, Englewood, New Jersy. Includes liner notes by John Murph.

Personnel includes: Philip Bailey (vocals, timbales); Alan Burroughs (acoustic guitar); Mike "Dino" Cambell, John Hart (guitar); Myron McKinley (melodica, piano, keyboards); Bob Belden (soprano saxophone); Lou Marini (alto saxophone); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Scott Wendholt (trumpet); Scott Kinsey (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards, programming);

Producers: Bob Belden, Myron McKinley, Scott Kinsey, Philip Bailey.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.JazzTimes (7-8/02, p.90) - "...Bailey is blessed with impeccable taste and superb musical instincts..."
Vibe (7/02, p.138) - 4 discs out of 5 - "...Backed by a swinging combo, Bailey's vivid vocals extend to realms beyond category..."