Alex Bugnon

itiates with an exotic melody played in accordion. His French roots are shown in the first two tracks. Elegance and brightness would be the most appropriate terms to describe this notorious CD. Generally more substantial than most of the other albums that smooth jazz stations play, the uneven, erratic 107 in the Shade is far from a gem, but has its moments. Bugnon gets into a pleasant, Joe Sample-ish groove on "Paris and May" and "When I Think About Home," whereas the much too brief "Fly, Spirit, Fly" hints at Pat Metheny. It was obvious that Sample was a major influence on Bugnon, although there were also traces of Ahmad Jamal in his playing.

Even the funkiest funkateers take a breather now and then, and after so many releases slamming up the electric pace, it's fairly refreshing to find Alex Bugnon telling his Tales from the Bright Side with such admirable restraint. Make no mistake, there is bounce in between those flashy keyboard runs, but it tends to enhance the melodic invention, rather than decimate or obliterate it.

The title of the Swiss-born composer/keyboardist's third Narada Jazz recording reflects the down-home spirit of his experience for the first time in Atlanta performing in ensemble with some of that city's greatest musicians, as well as an exhilarating shift from the heavy urban sensibilities of his New York-recorded 2001 hit, Soul Purpose. Getting away from the synthesizer-based sound that formed the foundation of most of his previous recordings, Bugnon strips down to the piano and Fender Rhodes in fashioning a more organically driven collection.

The heart of a jazz fan beats like Fambrough's bass, driving the lifeblood of warm sounds through the speakers and into the brain. Some bassists, in their own sessions, favor percussive and percolating arrangements that place the instrument in the role of soloist. Charles Fambrough actually seems to downplay the bass on Upright Citizen, ceding the spotlight to guests like Grover Washington, Jr. and Joe Ford. Fambrough's domain here is the rhythm section, adding programmed drums to his basslines in order to get the right foundation in place. As the captain of this ship, Fambrough ensures a smooth ride, absorbing the shock in Alex Bugnon's potentially bumpy "In Stride" and making sure a track like "D's Song" has the right amount of snap to it.

Hart Ramsey, Sr. Founder and Pastor of Northview Christian Church with weekly services accommodating approximately 6,000+ members, returns with his second contemporary jazz album entitled My Next heartbeat. Hart Ramsey is a sought after producer, keyboard player, engineer & songwriter who has paid his dues in the studio in support of many artists and returns with a phenomenal follow up. My Next Heart-beat is a co-produced by bassist Sean Michael Ray who has toured extensively with soul extraordinaire Maxwell, John Waite, Alex Bugnon, Dionne Farrism and a host of notable artists in both the R&B and Jazz Arenas.

Considering that "Day By Day"has been out since 1988 , it still sounds as great as music that's being released today.Strongly recommended for all smooth jazz fans.