Grp David Benoit - Fuzzy Logic

It may not be appropriate to label this as Benoit's best record, considering what his 80s albums Freedom at Midnight, Waiting for Spring, and others, did for the smooth-jazz genre. During the 1990s, his discs were bland and without drive, but on these 10 tracks his dazzling technique again is complemented with music he can sink his keys into. Ironically, Benoit moves forward by going backward. Like other smooth-jazz artists, the pianist has sprinkled retro-based European acid jazz and drum & bass grooves into his style. His brilliant cover of Smash Mouth's "Then the Morning Comes", in all its 60s soul-jazz glory, still radiates the alternative music vibe of today and is destined to become a pop instrumental classic. Some time-surfing is also done on the Rick Braun-produced "Snap" and the funky title tune, both sporting high-powered horn charts. On the ballads, Benoit dispenses with the sappy strings that plagued many of his recent recordings, but wears his influences on his sleeve by nearly plagiarising Ramsey Lewis on "Someday Soon" and Joe Sample on "Reflections". The self-explanatory "Tango in Barbados" also stands out. --Mark Ruffin

Shipping: £0.00, Delivery time: Usually dispatched within 24 hours