Right Here, Right Now

David Benoit

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 2003)
• Original Release Date: October 14, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Verve
• ASIN: B0000ARNDL
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #58,965 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Composer, pianist and three-time Grammy nominee David Benoit continues his legendary status as the pioneer of smooth jazz with his latest release, "Right Here, Right Now." Maintaining his signature style of tranquility, Benoit decides to loosen up a bit and add a little funk on this CD. The opening cut, "Watermelon Man" offers Herbie Hancock's classic funk but also embraces a retro-60's sound that Benoit classifies as "funky jazz" or "jazz rock". The title track, "Right Here, Right Now", produced by longtime friend and trumpet player Rick Braun captures the true essence of a David Benoit classic. James Taylor's "Don't Let Me be Lonely Tonight" is cushioned with an intoxicating live jazz treatment accompanied by a 22-piece string section. Benoit's musical selections reflect his attraction for a range of jazz-inflected styles, from contemporary pop to pure bebop, orchestral and hip-hop. On the cadenced "Jellybeans and Chocolate" titled with his daughter June in mind, he introduces up and coming smooth jazz musicians, Brian Culbertson (trombone) and Euge Groove (saxophone). Benoit also features the talents of his live band on the bossa nova inflected ode to Hawaii, "Swingin Waikiki" and "Quiet Room" a touching dedication to his late father.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, RIGHT STUFF!!!, December 29, 2003

By	"swingoutsisterguy" (New Castle, DE USA) - See all my reviews

This is not your typical "musac". This is a groovy, soulful and tender jam session with Mr. David Benoit fronting it all.
Right from the start (Watermelon Man) you are "chillin" and "groovin". The title track (Right Here, Right Now) comes next and your feet still have the tendency to keep tapping (thanks in part to one of my favorite trumpeters Rick Braun).
Le Grand brings the groovin down a couple of notches. Le Grand is the kind of song that goes well with a couple of glasses of your best Aussie Shiraz. His version of Norah Jones' Don't Know Why comes next. Either version (his or hers) is fantastic. If you are hungry try some Jellybeans and Chocolate. This is a little groovy ditty which gets some serious jammin' with the help of Brian Culbertson and Euge Groove (song co-written by Benoit and Rick Braun). Let's get a little casual and take a listen to Third Encounter. This song forces you to sit and let your mind drift. For a more retro feel try a little Swingin' Waikiki; the feel pulled right from the 60's style of musac.
For a change of pace try a little live recording called Wistful Thinking. This song was recorded by Benoit's own band and I must say, it was very, very nice.
I rank David Benoit as one of the best in smooth jazz. I place him with such "instrumentalists" as Rick Braun, Jim Brickman, Down to The Bone and Chris Botti.
This one fabulous cd.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is one you'll never get tired of !, October 31, 2003

By	Jim Lanctot (Spring Lake Park, MN United States) - See all my reviews

I've had the privilege of listening to this CD and then hearing several of the cuts in a live concert in Chicago. No disappointments in either one - in fact, some of the best music I've heard in years and I've been a soundman for 25 years now. I have to say, this guy has incredible talent, he works with other incredible talent, and the results are outstanding. You can tell he really enjoys what he's doing.

This release isn't like those of so many other artists with only one or two decent cuts - it's a solid work all the way through. Even the covers (Watermelon Man for instance) have a freshness that in my opinion makes them better than the originals.

I have a particular fondness for some of David's other work (American Landscape ranks among my all-time favorites for its vastness and well-executed experimental quality), and I've been listening to his music since about 1987. This release is my hands-down favorite of all his work, and should be on the list of must-haves for every music lover.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing David Benoit, January 27, 2006

By	-=Rudy=- (Canton, MI USA) - See all my reviews

I've been a David Benoit fan since the early 80s, and unfortunately, this latest recording comes nowhere close to the quality of his earlier efforts. I get the feeling this was a contract fulfillment for GRP--I believe Benoit is now with Peak Records, where hopefully he'll regain some of freedom to record the adventurous and tasteful music he's recorded in the past. This latest effort is almost as bland and faceless as most $mooth Jazz on the radio today--I can barely tell this is a David Benoit recording, he's so buried in the mix. Rick Braun's heavy, slick "formula" over-production does not win any points here and, in my opinion, is a lot of the problem with this recording: it panders to the $mooth Jazz crowd, not contemporary jazz fans (such as myself) who value melody and musicianship over fitting a radio-friendly formula. I get the feeling I'm listening to a Rick Braun recording with Benoit as guest artist...and this is not a good thing! For instance, this is the blandest cover of "Watermelon Man" I've ever heard. I'm waiting for Benoit to give us another excellent album like "Letter To Evan", where he displays his considerable piano chops and yet, still gives us memorable melodies of his own, and his unique cover versions of others' tunes done in his inimitable contemporary style. Skip this one unless you're a completist (like I am); if you're just starting out, get one of GRP's compilations, or pick up a few choice gems from his 80s and early 90s catalog.