ProJazz.net

If he wasn’t such a great guitarist, this recording would be easy to dismiss. Most GRP releases, especially back in the late ’80s, epitomized the commercial jazz sound. There are several light tracks here that qualify as elevator music; however, there are some good tracks as well. Both “The Story Teller” and “Straightjacket” are listenable funk/fusion romps that showcase both Eubanks and Gene Jackson, but the real gem here is “In Search of the Searcher,” featuring Edward Simon on piano and Dennis Chambers on drums. Being a consummate professional and ultimate musician, Eubanks is able to work within his confined parameters and make tunes such as “Forgotten Future” and “Poem for a Sleeping Child” a pleasant and interesting listen. The producers here were obviously trying to re-create some of the appeal that Pat Metheny achieved by using Mark Ledford’s voicings, but it comes up flat here. Another “diet jazz” recording from GRP with hints of Eubanks’ genius spread thinly throughout (Robert Taylor/AllMusic).

Track listing:

A1 The Story Teller 5:17
A2 Cookin’ 3:39
A3 Straitjacket 6:05
A4 Sandra 6:06
B1 In Search Of The Searcher 5:35
B2 Forgotten Future 5:34
B3 Breeze 5:10
B4 Blue Woven Dreams 5:59

Personnel:

Bass [6-string Electric] – Rael Wesley Grant (tracks: B1)
Bass [Acoustic, Electric] – Kenny Davis (tracks: A1, A3, A4, B4)
Bass [Electric] – Victor Bailey (tracks: B2, B3)
Drums – Dennis Chambers (tracks: B1 to B3), Gene Jackson (tracks: A1, A3 , B4)
Guitar [Acoustic, Electric] – Kevin Eubanks
Piano – Edward Simon (tracks: A1, A3 to B4)
Vocals [Beat Box Drum Vocals] – Duane “Cook” Broadnax (tracks: A2)
Vocals, Percussion [Vocal] – Mark Ledford (tracks: A2, B2, B4)

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Label: GRP – GR -9580
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1989