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Smooth (Gerald Albright album)
1994 studio album by Gerald Albright From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Smooth is the fourth studio album by the American musician Gerald Albright, released in 1994 on Atlantic Records.[2][3] The album peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and No. 2 on both the Billboard Jazz Albums and Contemporary Jazz Albums charts.[4]
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Production
Albright strove to create an R&B album; in addition to saxophone, he also played flute and keyboards.[5][6] Vesta Williams, Lalah Hathaway, and Will Downing are among the many vocalists on the album.[7][8][9] Howard Hewett sang on the cover of "This Is for the Lover in You".[10] Stanley Clarke played bass on "Sedona".[11] The liner notes were written by Magic Johnson.[12]
Critical reception
The Los Angeles Times wrote that "Albright offers predictably melodic, safe solos that, for the most part, fail to engage the listener."[9] The Daily Breeze determined that Albright "turns in softly percussive, overly slick readings of soul-jazz mood pieces... He ignores chances to improvise or offer inventive ideas."[16] The Charlotte Observer deemed the album "Albright's breakthrough work," writing that "it's obvious Albright has put a lot of energy into this effort."[14] The Buffalo News considered the music "full of slinky rhythms, gossamer textures and sensuous, lazy melodies."[12]
AllMusic called the album "a tasty if somewhat typical journey through the land of quiet storm and light funk."[13]
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Accolades
Smooth was nominated for a Soul Train Music Award for "Best Jazz Album".[17]
Track listing
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Personnel
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- Gerald Albright – tenor saxophone (1, 2, 10), keyboards (1, 2, 10), bass guitar (1, 2, 6), drum programming (2), EWI (2, 10), alto saxophone (3–5, 7–9), flute (4), soprano saxophone (5, 6)
- Chuckii Booker – keyboards (1–4, 6, 7), drum programming (1, 4, 6, 7), backing vocals (7)
- Arvel McClinton – keyboards (3), drum programming (3), backing vocals (3)
- Patrick Moten – keyboards (5, 10)
- Derek Nakamoto – strings (5, 9, 10)
- Travon Potts – keyboards (8, 9), drum programming (8, 9)
- Greg Phillinganes – keyboards (9)
- Paul Jackson Jr. – guitars (1, 2, 10), rhythm guitar (5)
- Lee Ritenour – lead guitar (5)
- Melvin Lee Davis – bass guitar (5)
- Stanley Clarke – piccolo bass solo (9)
- Freddie Washington – bass (10)
- Land Richards – drums (9, 10)
- Vesta Williams – vocals (1), backing vocals (1)
- Pattie Howard – backing vocals (1)
- Olivia McClurkin – backing vocals (1)
- Alfie Silas – backing vocals (1)
- Lalah Hathaway – vocals (2), backing vocals (2)
- Howard Hewett – backing vocals (4)
- Will Downing – vocals (6), backing vocals (6)
Production
- Raymond A. Shields – executive producer, management
- Gerald Albright – producer, recording (1, 3, 6, 7), assistant engineer (1–3, 5, 6, 8–10)
- Arvel McClinton – producer (3)
- Chuckii Booker – producer (7)
- Travon Potts – producer (8, 9)
- Kevin Kadel – recording (1, 2, 4–6, 8–10, mixing (6)
- Anthony Jefferies – mixing (1–5, 7), recording (5, 9, 10)
- Dave Pensado – mixing (8)
- Craig Burbidge – mixing (9, 10)
- Ray Silva – assistant engineer
- Kevin D. Lewis – production coordinator
- Elizabeth Barrett – art direction
- Louise O'Brien – photography
- Daniel Schridde – photography
- Magic Johnson – liner notes
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References
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