Kickin It

Jeff Lorber | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B000641ZJK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,928 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The man who produced the very first albums by saxophonists Kenny G, Dave Koz, and Art Porter went into the studio with the intention of kickin' it on his Fender Rhodes piano along with a few of his horn-playing friends. He came out with his best album since his historic Arista Records heyday in the late 1970s. The two best soloists on the 40-minute, 10-song set are Gerald Albright and long-time Lorber band member, Gary Meek. Respectively, they kick off the first two tracks with the kind of unique jazz-funk that made Lorber a legend with acid jazzers and fans who were there in the late '70s when jazz-rock met urban R&B. The keyboardist pays nice tributes to two contemporary jazz icons, The Crusaders and Ramsey Lewis, with killer covers of "Keep That Same Ol' Feelin," featuring Albright, and "The In Crowd," featuring a perfectly subdued Richard Elliot. "Happy Endings," a ballad with Koz, seems to be Lorber's only appeasement to smooth-jazz radio, as the rest, including the only other ballad (the very pretty "Reflections"), are pure Lorber. They're tunes that are just as interesting harmonically as they are rhythmically, with great soloing, to boot. If more of his current keyboard peers delivered the same, smooth jazz would look a lot better overall. --Mark Ruffin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of His Very Best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, February 27, 2001

By 

Raider Jack "Jackie D Gray-Romeyn" (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kickin It (Audio CD)

I have been a true fan of Jeff Lorber's since the mid-70s when he had Kenny (G)orelik as his main sax man. While Kenny G has gone on to more commercial acclaim, there is no denying that Jeff Lorber is a master mentor still very much in his element and still able to put out quality jazz fusion material. None of the material here disappoints...as a matter of fact, there is not one single dud on the CD. His interpretations of "Ain't Nobody" and "Keep That Same Old Feeling" are fresh and sparkling readings. "Happy Endings" is a glorious piece while the title cut, "Kickin It" does just that. Makes you almost wonder why the A&R department or Mr. Lorber for that matter did not start the CD with this particular cut. Musically there are no real surprises and if you are a true Jeff Lorber fan you are quite familiar with his chord progressions. But this CD is well worth the wait and merely whets the appetite for the next production from one of jazz fusion's premiere artists. Hats off to a wonderful CD that you will enjoy for years to come!!!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lorber Kicks The Homogenize Sound of Smooth Jazz, May 5, 2001

By 

Michael Romeo (Palmer, Alaska United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kickin It (Audio CD)

Thank goodness for Jeff Lorber and this excellent piece of work. In a time when all you hear on jazz stations are songs that sound like they were all produced by Paul Brown. This is a breathe of fresh air. Packaged in this musical journey are wonderful melodies, driving beats, funky latin sounds and the beautiful keyboards of Lorber. Included in this CD are great guest horn players like Gerald Albright, Dave Koz, Steve Cole and Richard Elliot. Jeff also backs himself up with the tighest band that I have heard in years. Snakebite track one will set the tone for this musical journey and the fantastic keyboard playing by one of the best. So if you find yourself stuck in the musical dole-drom of smooth jazz. Start Kickin'It with Jeff Lorber.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a kick.., October 1, 2002

By 

Steven Swain "friendly neighborhood mall geek" (Rocky Mount, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kickin It (Audio CD)

"Kickin' It" is neither the artistic triumph or smooth-jazz pablum that many reviewers have characterized. It's more earthy than most of Jeff Lorber's 1990s output, and has some of the tightest session musicians working in contemporary jazz.

Every song is a delight, though the cover of "Ain't Nobody" does nothing to enhance the song beyond what Rufus & Chaka Khan did orginally. And producer Paul Brown is nowhere to be found, which may come as some solace to Brown haters (of which I am not, but it does seem like he's producing everybody these days)

Sure, Jeff and the gang could have stretched out a little more, but most fans respect his restraint and though it's not a revolution, it's a decent evolution of Jeff Lorber's signature sound.