ProJazz.net

“A splash of variety and all-star panache elevates Chuck Loeb’s The Music Inside above the typical play it safe pop-jazz date. Smooth overall but just punchy enough in all the right spots, the disc tends to surprise at the very moment its grooves start sounding too comfortable. After a relaxing take on Babyface’s languid “Breathe Again,” for instance, Loeb goes the streetsmart bluesy route with the horn drenched “Steffi’s Strut.” Other cool continental shifts include a breezy Eastern tinge, a crazed Latin attitude with the help of Michel Camilo’s trademark ivory bounce, and even tinges of classical influence. The very Sanbornesque ballad “Equal Time” features that notoriously brilliant soundalike, saxman Andy Snitzer, surrounded by the piano harmonics of Sanborn’s old cohort Michael Colina. Nelson Rangell, Eddie Daniels and Mitchel Forman round out the celeb input in a setting which shows that while Loeb is stellar on both acoustic and electric strings, his greatest contribution to the genre is his compositional diversity.” – Jonathan Widran/AllMusic.

Track listings:
1 The Music Inside
2 Cruzin’ South
3 La Siesta
4 Equal Time
5 Breathe Again
6 Steffi’s Strut
7 Shanghai
8 Bells
9 Never Two Much
10 Mont Pelée

Personnel:

Alto Flute, Concert Flute – Lawrence Feldman (tracks: 1,2)
Alto Saxophone – Andy Snitzer (tracks: 4), Nelson Rangell (tracks: 5)
Artwork – Grace Chang
Baritone Saxophone – Gary Anderson (tracks: 6)
Bass – Mel Brown (tracks: 1,4), Tim Lefebvre (tracks: 3,6,8,10), Will Lee (tracks: 2,5,7,9)
Clarinet – Eddie Daniels (tracks: 10)
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner (tracks: 2,3,6,7,8)
Electric Piano – Michael Colina (tracks: 4)
Electronic Wind Instrument [EWI] – Michael Brecker (tracks: 7)
Flute [Flutes] – Nelson Rangell (tracks: 9)
Keyboards – Jon Werking (tracks: 5)
Organ – Jim Beard (tracks: 6)
Percussion – David Charles (2) (tracks: 2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10)
Percussion [Intro] – The Montagnese Family Percussion Ensemble (tracks: 7)
Piano [Rhodes] – Jon Werking (tracks: 9)
Piano, Keyboards [Additional] – Mitchel Forman (tracks: 3,8)
Piano, Synthesizer – Michel Camilo (tracks: 9)
Producer, Arranged By, Guitar, Keyboards, Drum, Percussion [Programming], Drum [Programming] – Chuck Loeb
Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer (tracks: 6)
Tom Tom [Fills], Finger Cymbals – Zach Danziger (tracks: 4,5,9)
Trombone [Alto, Tenor] – Jim Pugh (tracks: 2,)
Trumpet – Tony Kadleck (tracks: 6)
Vocals – Carmen Cuesta (tracks: 1,2,5,9), Rob Mathes (tracks: 9)

______________________

Label: Shanachie – 5022, Shanachie – P1034
Format: 2 x CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 1996
Genre: Jazz
Style: Smooth Jazz