JEFF LORBER — He Had A Hat (2007) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

A sophisticated showcase for his varied jazz styles, Jeff Lorber's He Had a Hat finds the pianist moving from softly funky pop-jazz numbers to a few straight-ahead swingers. Always an urbane and tasteful musician, Lorber has often found a good balance between contemporary pop oriented material and more cerebral improvisational cuts, and He Had a Hat is a prime example of this duality. To these ends, tracks like the title cut and the frenetic "Surreptitious" evince a kind of Tower of Power meets Brecker Brothers funk. Fittingly, trumpeter Randy Brecker adds his supple chops to the latter track. Similarly engaging big-band numbers like "All Most Blues" and the afterglow ballad "Orchid" bring to mind both early- and late-period Miles Davis, respectively. Also joining Lorber here are a bevy of name artists including trumpeter Chris Botti, vocalist Paula Cole, saxophonist Gerald Albright, and many others.This CD was nominated for a Grammy award in 2007 for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1.    Anthem For A New America    3:48
2.    He Had A Hat  4:34
Horns, Tenor Saxophone – Kirk Whalum
Trombone – Jacques Voyemant
3.    Grandma's Hands  4:07
Alto Saxophone – Gerald Albright
Featuring [Vocals], Vocals – Eric Benet
Guitar – Paul Brown
Horns [Section] – Tom Scott
Tambourine – Lenny Castro
4.    Surreptitious  4:10
Tenor Saxophone – Ada Rovatti
Trumpet – Randy Brecker
5.    All Most Blues  4:24
Alto Saxophone – Tom Scott
6.    Orchid  3:53
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Sheppard
Trumpet – Chris Botti
7.    BC Bop    2:28
8.    The Other Side Of The Heart  5:35
Featuring [Vocals], Vocals – Eric Benet, Paula Cole
9.    Hudson  3:58
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Sheppard
10.    Super Fusion Unit    3:52
11.    Eye Tunes    3:50
12.    Requiem For Gandalf    3:44
13.    Burn Brightly  3:52
Guitar – Russell Malone
Recorded By [Guitar] – Kevin Killen
Credits :
Alto Flute – Bob Sheppard (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Jeff Driskoll (tracks: 5, 10, 12)
Arranged By [Horns] – Bobby Colomby (tracks: 7, 9, 11, 13), Jeff Lorber (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 9 to 11, 13), Randy Brecker (tracks: 4), Teddy Mulet (tracks: 4), Tom Scott (tracks: 3, 5)
Bass – Alex Al (tracks: 2 to 4, 8 to 10, 13), Brian Bromberg (tracks: 1, 5 to 7, 11, 12)
Bass Clarinet – John Mitchell (tracks: 5, 10, 12)
Bass Trombone – Craig Gosnell (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Jens Wendelboe (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13)
Drums – Abraham Laboriel, Jr (tracks: 1 to 3, 8, 9), Dave Weckl (tracks: 4, 10, 13), Vinnie Colaiuta (tracks: 5 to 7, 11, 12)
Featuring – The Krim Symphonic Orchestra (tracks: 1, 8)
Flugelhorn – Steve Jankowski (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13), Teddy Mulet (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13)
Flute – Bob Sheppard (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Hubert Laws (tracks: 9, 11)
French Horn – Richard Todd (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Steve Durnin (tracks: 5, 10, 12)
Guitar – Paul Jackson, Jr (tracks: 2 to 4, 8, 10)
Keyboards – Jeff Lorber
Orchestrated By – Jeremy Lubbock (tracks: 1, 8)
Percussion – Lenny Castro (tracks: 2, 9, 10, 12, 13)
Saxophone – Tom Timko (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13)
Trombone – Bob McChesney (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Jens Wendelboe (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13)
Trumpet – Gary Grant (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Steve Jankowski (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13), Teddy Mulet (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13)