Customer Reviews

Inside

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

As many other Sanborn fans, I discovered him in his late seventies mid eighties albums ("As we speak", "Backstreet"). I loved his sound and power, and thought he was the best sax player around. What happened then is what I have described in other reviews : smooth jazz, or jazz funk, or jazz soul got seriously eroded over time. The reasons being that too many people got into the niche, and tastes shifted. This album seems to be very criticized by the reviewers, who compare earlier Sanborn collections to this one. Big mistake.

I honestly think that "What's inside" is a very good album. It is not a chart topper, and it doesn't bring anything spectacularly new, but I found Sanborn very recovered after a couple of disastrous records. As a matter of fact, I saw him four years ago at a live concert in Atlanta (with Joe Sample, Al Jarreau and Roberta Flack), and thought he was completely "out". On "Inside", the great association with Marcus Miller, the little big man, turns out great. Marcus is one of the 5 top bass players for me, and he produces much better than people like Paul Brown (Al Jarreau, please dump that guy !!!). The result is a pop jazz album, with bluesy touches ("Brother Ray", "Miss you"), penetrating slow tempo beats ("Trance"), and a Me'shell ambient-like "Naked moon".

The vocals on this album are not the pasty-conventional voices you find on so many albums. I think Lalah Hathaway and Eric Benet are fine on "I'm With you", and the cover version of "Aint't no sunshine" (remember Bill Withers ?) with Sting (that one is unexpected !!) is worth by itself getting the album. As other reviewers mention, you also get the bonus of "Lisa", a very sexy track marvelously reinterpreted.

Last but not least (and maybe I should have started here), the graphics of the album are great. Black and white pictures, with a greenish touch for the cover and backsleeve give a cozy touch. You feel somewhat closer to David through the design. And that is what is inside this album. A collection of songs to listen at home or in your car and feel at ease. No frills, but sounds of excellent quality, and an album above average. Not smooth jazz ? No, it's not, but smooth jazz is on the slippery slope, so why not give this album a try ?

Someone suggested David Sanborn to me. I like instrumental music,but I've always been a popular music listener. I really like the "ease" of the music. It's soothing, and really puts you in a good mood. This was my first blues/jazz cd. I'm hooked on David Sanborn, and will buy more from him. I also will explore more blues and jazz, for sure.

this cd hows a different side from the traditional sanborn ; i going to play this cd for a long time. rob ( greenstreet jazz)

I am a Sanborn fan and this is easily one of his best. Released in the late 90's this grasped the time period and is fantastic!!!!

Without a doubt David has put in a lot of time in the production of this CD! Cassandra Wilson and the rest of the group adds that difinitive measure that makes this release such an outstanding piece of listening pleasure. I'm looking forward to his performance in Fort Worth, TX in the Fall!!!!

Well,Sanborn did a great job to "impress" people with his repetitious funk licks.All the tracks here don't have any soul and passion,it's just commercial playing.And I don't understand why "Jazz purist" claim he is a living legend.For goodness sake can't you all hear that?he is just up to impress people with his loud and noisy tone and some boring nursery licks.He is lack of harmonic ideas and is expert in playing blue scales(but he manage to reshape the simple blue scales to deceive you kids).He is just like one of those Eric mariential,Nelson Rangel and Everette harp craps.If "Jazz Purist" out there wanna upgrade yourself,listen to the real masters,Branford Marsalis, George Garzone and Joe Lovano.

mesmerizing textures, complex syncopation. DS is a master of his art. The best cover of Aint no Sunshine Ive ever heard

Dave, Dave, Dave, I think I've finally figured you out. I should buy every other CD right? Sting, Benet, Hathaway and Wilson bring nothing, I repeat nothing to this CD. Cassandra Wilson has an absolutely magnificent voice, a treasure, but it's not the VOICE I want telling me about their "Daydreaming". Since this is a pop/RB CD with saxaphone fills, why not Chante Mooore on vocals, yeah, she can tell me about her daydreams and anything else on your mind, perfect vocal style for the song. Now I'm daydreaming, excuse the digression, back to the point. It's the horn we want to hear, the Sanborn horn. The soulful, blow the spit out Sanborn horn unsandwiched between made for radio vocals. On a positive note, thanks for the update of "Lisa" (Straight to the Heart, 1984), truly rendered with all spirit and feel of the original...now that's Sanborn!!!

this cd shows a different side from the traditional sanborn ; i going to play this cd for a long time. rob ( greenstreet jazz)

This CD has some really good sounds:Sax,Bass,Guitar,Vocals(Daydreaming).David Sanborn is a really good musician.