Smoooooth soprano saxophonist Paul Taylor's fourth CD, Hypnotic (his first on Russ Freeman's Peak label), pretty much nails the smooth jazz genre smack-dab in the center. His pleasing soprano, often overdubbed with harmonies, weaves sensual, pleasant melodies and lyrical solos on top of layers of programmed keyboard and drum soundscapes. He works with several different producer/programmer/all other instruments collaborators: former employer Jeff Lorber (five tunes), and Dino Esposito, Kurt Jackson, and Oji Pierce (two tunes apiece). Despite the different producers, the sound and the mood never vary much from the smooth formula. The album's title is apt; this program could easily lull the listener into a smooth, mellow trance.
Paul Taylor: soprano and alto sax; Brian Monroney: guitar; Kurt Jackson: guitar; Tony Maiden: guitar; Paul Pesco: guitar; Alex Al: bass; Lenny Castro: percussion; Kurt Jackson: vocals (6); Dino Esposito: keyboards, drum programming, all other instruments; Kurt Jackson: keyboards, drum programming, all other instruments; Mathew Edralin: keyboards, drum programming, all other instruments; Jeff Lorber: keyboards, drum programming, all other instruments; Oji Pierce: keyboards, drum programming, all other instruments.
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.