Mindi Abair – It Just Happens That Way
Mindi Abair
(Verve/GRP – 2003)
by Paula Edelstein
It Just Happens That Way for Mindi Abair on her brand new release for GRP Records. Ripe with the ambience of a fresh, new day, the CD reflects the good-natured personality of Abair through her distinctive voice on saxophone. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mindi Abair has performed with the best of the pop, soul and contemporary jazz groups. On It Just Happens That Way, Abair demonstrates her compositional prowess on such tunes as Eagle-Eye Cherry’s “Save Tonight” and originals penned by Abair titled “Lucy’s”, “Save The Last Dance,” “Salt and Lime,” and the title track.
Some of her sax riffs are similar to Candi Dulfer’s and Pamela Williams’ but Mindi Abair can hold her own with the best of the best female saxophonists. Whether with gigging with the Smooth Jazz All Stars or out on her own, Mindi Abair has class and style and a sultry sound that will make its way to your soul.
The title track comes from a Cannonball Adderley rap to the audience at the Village Vanguard on his 1962 “live” album, LIVE IN NEW YORK. “Hipness is not a state of mind. It’s a fact of life. You don’t decide you’re hip…It just happens that way!”
Reprinted with permission of…
