ERIC MARIENTHAL — It's Love (2012) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Saxophonist Eric Marienthal is among contemporary jazz's busiest talents. On the day that It's Love was released, Marienthal also played a starring role on the Jeff Lorber Fusion entry Galaxy. The two albums reflect Marienthal's varied talents, as both a creative improviser and a lover of groove-oriented popular music. It's Love was produced by guitarist Chuck Loeb, who also appears throughout the set. Also in this studio band are Yellowjackets' keyboardist Russell Ferrante, drummer Gary Novak, and bassist Tim Lefebvre. Marienthal's love of pop-soul is displayed on the album's opening number, a cover of Brenda Russell's iconic "Get Here." Introduced by Ferrante's piano and spare percussion and guitar, Marienthal's alto moves right into the melody and sticks close while digging deep into his horn's grain for emotion. When the key change happens, he syncopates the lyric flow and allows the melody to guide him. While this track has been covered by many singers, pulling it off in a contemporary jazz setting isn't easy. The temptation to show off one's chops at the expense of the tune is everywhere; Marienthal's discipline keeps him honest and he lets its original intent flow right through to the listener. He switches gears on a 21st century reading of Irving Mills' "In a Sentimental Mood," which doesn't resemble any instrumental version out there -- Loeb's solo guitar intro evokes Wes Montgomery before Ferrante and Marienthal enter and return what has long been a vehicle for jazz improvisation back into a lyric song. The title track is a haunting ballad co-written by Marienthal and Loeb, while the latter's "Two in One" is a midtempo groover with Marienthal soloing on soprano. "Babycakes" and "St. Moritz" were co-composed by the saxophonist with Lorber. The former evokes the Crusaders circa 1969 and 1970 as Marienthal uses Wilton Felder's soulful phrasing in a gospelized groove while Loeb plays tasty fills à la Larry Carlton. Lorber contributes keyboards and additional guitar, too. On "St. Moritz," Till Brönner's trumpet adds depth, density, and an added lyricism to the breezy Caribbean atmosphere until the midway point, where it gets nocturnal and funky. It's Love is a (mostly) laid-back offering, yet it's solid: beautifully arranged and executed, its silky production and emotive undertones, make it a perfect Valentine's Day soundtrack to boot. 
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <- 
Tracklist :
1.    Get Here 4:29
 Brenda Russell 
2.    In A Sentimental Mood 5:20
 Irving Mills 
3.    Can't Buy Me Love 5:48
 John Lennon / Paul McCartney 
4.    It's Love 5:52
 Chuck Loeb / Eric Marienthal 
5.    Two In One 6:21
 Chuck Loeb
6.    Costa Del Soul 5:20
 Chuck Loeb / Eric Marienthal 
7.    Babycakes 4:41
 Jeff Lorber / Eric Marienthal 
8.    Cafe Royale 6:00
 Russell Ferrante / Eric Marienthal 
9.    St. Moritz 5:25
 Jeff Lorber / Eric Marienthal 
10.    When I Found You 4:21
 Brian Culbertson / Eric Marienthal 
Credits :
Brian Culbertson - Composer, Engineer, Featured Artist, Keyboards, Mixing, Piano, Producer
Chuck Loeb - Arranger, Composer, Engineer, Featured Artist, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer
David Charles - Featured Artist, Percussion, Percussion Engineer
Eric Marienthal - Arranger, Clarinet, Composer, Engineer, Executive Producer, Flute, Primary Artist, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor)
Gary Novak - Drums, Featured Artist
Jeff Lorber - Composer, Engineer, Featured Artist, Guitar, Keyboards
Jimmy Haslip - Bass (Electric), Featured Artist
Pat Bianchi - Featured Artist, Organ (Hammond)
Russell Ferrante - Composer, Featured Artist, Keyboards, Piano
Till Brönner - Featured Artist, Trumpet
Tim Lefebvre - Bass (Electric), Featured Artist

JEFF LORBER FUSION — The Drop (2023) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After spending 25 years recording solo and working as a first-call record producer, Jeff Lorber resurrected his Jeff Lorber Fusion to issue Now Is the Time in 2010. It marked the beginning of a real return to chart success for Lorber: The band issued eight more albums, and seven of them landed inside the Top Ten on both the jazz and contemporary jazz charts. The Drop is his 30th album and a strident, star-studded exercise in sophisticated, swinging, progressive jazz-funk. The JLF consists of the leader along with drummer Gary Novak and either longtime associate Jimmy Haslip (who co-produced with Lorber) or Cornelius Mims holding down the bass chair. Lorber's crew is also filled with guests including guitarists Paul Jackson, Jr. and Marc Lettieri (Snarky Puppy), and saxophonists Randal Clark and David Mann.

The title-track single opens the set on a deep funk groover with syncopated groove horns courtesy of Mann and Clark, breaking snares and hi-hats, and a wonky, rumbling bassline from Mims. Lorber's acoustic and Rhodes pianos weave through the swaggering backbeat in a manner that recalls the glory days of CTI (Mann was part of the label's studio stable). "Altered State" is a midtempo, cinematic groover played by the trio with Haslip on six-string bass adding lyric components to the already pronounced melody supplied by Lorber's tasty piano vamps. "New Mexico" returns to hard-grooving urban jazz-funk. Tight piano vamps and imaginative single lines frame a finger-popping riff by the rhythm section. As the choruses emerge, they are given heft by the horns and Lettieri's lead guitar, and the tune becomes an anthem by its close. "Hang Tight" is a lithe, nocturnal, almost quiet storm instrumental for the chill-out room. It contains excellent rhythm guitar work from Lorber (who also plays keys), buoying Lettieri's slow-developing, elegant solo. The lithe, sophisticated "Liberty" has a riff constructed entirely from electronics as Lorber's Minimoog meets Rhodes and acoustic piano. He's framed by Mims' fluid bassline and Haslip (who adds another harmonic component on his six-string bass). "Keep On Moving" weds polished urban funk and Pat Metheny's sense of harmonic euphoria to a sultry, steamy, finger-popping dance groove. "Mindshare" is a showcase for Lorber's Rhodes soloing atop punchy yet elegant jazz-funk. "Reception" and "Tail Lights" address the contemporary jazz vocabulary, adding color with hip charts as well as gorgeous alternate soloing from Lettieri and Jackson. Lorber's keyboards on the former meld Minimoog, piano, and Rhodes, effortlessly stacking and juxtaposing lyric and rhythmic statements. On the latter, his acoustic solo crosses blues, hard bop, and funk in a sweeping encounter with horns, drums, and guitars. The Drop presents the Lorber group at a creative peak, reveling in funky goodness and elevated grooves in a sophisticated presentation of 21st century jazz-funk. 
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <- 
Tracklist :
1.    The Drop    3:53
2.    Altered State    3:55
3.    New Mexico    4:06
4.    On The Bus    3:34
5.    Hang Tight    3:51
6.    Liberty    4:22
7.    Keep Moving    3:32
8.    Mindshare    3:51
9.    Reception    4:05
10.    Tail Lights    3:24
Credits :
6-String Bass [Melody] – Jimmy Haslip (tracks: 2, 6 to 8)
Alto Saxophone [Aksi] – Randal Clark (tracks: 1, 3, 7, 8, 10)
Bass – Cornelius Mims (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 to 10), Jimmy Haslip (tracks: 2)
Drums – Gary Novak
Flute [Melody] – David Mann (tracks: 9)
Horns, Arranged By [Horns], Performer [Performance] – David Mann (tracks: 1, 3, 7 to 10)
 Keyboards, Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Jeff Lorber
 Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar – Mark Lettieri (tracks: 3 to 9)
Rhythm Guitar – Jeff Lorber (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 7 to 10), Paul Jackson Jr. (tracks: 1)
Soprano Saxophone – Randal Clark (tracks: 6)
Synth Bass – Jeff Lorber (tracks: 5)
Synthesizer [Minimoog] – Jeff Lorber (tracks: 3, 6, 8, 9)
Written-By – Jeff Lorber