Alan Hewitt Project – Noche De Pasion
Alan Hewitt Project
Noche De Pasion
(215 Records – 2004)
by Ray Redmond
Wow! This is a smoking smooth jazz CD. Hewitt opens absolutely JAMMING the title track and featuring Euge Groove‘s smooth sax… this is a good choice for first track on the CD. Steve Madaio stands in on trumpet and flugelhorn to accompany the Hewitt keyboards on the staccato laden Breathless. Love Feeds The Fire slows up the pace but turns up the heat with Michael Lington making his appearance. And it doesn’t stop there… Jonathan Butler lends his guitar and scat vocals to the Butler-penned Sweet Thing, then alto diva Mindi Abair struts her stuff on the spanish-flavored U Touch Me.
| Listen to Breathless using RealAudio. |
Throughout this parade of stars Alan Hewitt rides and guides each track with his keyboard work, the glue that holds the tracks together, as the guest artists do their “guest” things. Vocalist Shea Chambers again slows it down a bit on the seductively smooth Inside My Dreams. The rest of the CD has appearances by John Defaria and Gerald Spikes who perform on two tracks apiece, most notably Blue Sky with it’s wonderful guitar lines.
Noche De Pasion is a good change from these smooth jazz CD’s we’re seeing lately where they pile a heap of good artists together and expect a great album (usually NOT). Rather, this is a great smooth jazz release that’s better for it’s inclusion of so many cameo artists. Bravo Alan… 4 stars.
