Kickin' It Up

Seventies jazz/funk fusion pioneer Jeff Lorber has hooked up with Albright for half of these tracks; that's appropriate because Albright's sound has a direct lineage from the past. He is the leading light continuing down the path blazed by Hank Crawford, King Curtis, and David Sanborn. Highlights here are the driving, hard-hitting tunes Lorber and Albright have produced together. The funkiest of the lot are "On the One," "Throw Yo' Hands," and "To the Max." Albright also displays the influence of Motown sax star Jr. Walker with "Walker's Theme." Like Walker, who covered acts ranging from the Guess Who to the Crusaders, Albright is very clever in his cover choices, with interpretations of the music of Harold Melvin, Brian McKnight, and a very interesting version of John Mayer's "Why Georgia," featuring Peter White. This is Albright's best effort in a decade. --Mark Ruffin