William Tee

Close-Up is very much a collaboration between altoist David Sanborn and Marcus Miller, who serves as producer, bassist and frequently the lead keyboardist. With the exception of Randy Newman's "Same Girl" and "You Are Everything," all of the music was written or co-composed by Sanborn and Miller. Some selections utilize such additional players as guitarist Hiram Bullock, keyboardist Ricky Peterson and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. In general, the music fits the formula well, offering Sanborn's emotional sax backed by then-modern electronics and funky rhythms.

Directly following his adventurous Another Hand, some listeners were disappointed with the fact that David Sanborn did not permanently switch from R&B/crossover to creative jazz. However, Upfront is generally quite appealing and takes some chances within its genre. Although bassist Marcus Miller is once again an important collaborator, the emphasis is on "real" instruments, most notably the organ of Ricky Peterson. Other musicians in the backup groups include John Purcell on various reeds, trumpeter Randy Brecker, drummer Steve Jordan and guest Eric Clapton, who takes a guitar solo on "Full House." The most unusual selection is the final cut, a version of Ornette Coleman's "Ramblin'" that finds Sanborn, Miller, Peterson and Jordan joined by the avant-garde trumpeter Herb Robertson.