In the ultra competitive world of smooth jazz saxophone differentiation is the name of the game and that is even more the case when applied to the female of the species. Whether it be Paula Atherton, Candy Dulfer, Jeanette Harris or Pamela Williams, they have all found elements of uniqueness with which they define their musical identity yet when it comes to Mindi Abair she has elevated uniqueness to a whole new level. Her earlier albums such as ‘Always And Never The Same’, ‘It Just Happens That Way’ and ‘Come As You Are’ were top-notch smooth jazz collections but then along the way something happened. Maybe it was her appearances as the sax player on American Idol, the fact she toured with rock band Aerosmith or that she shared the stage with Bruce Springsteen but Mindi began to emerge from her contemporary jazz cocoon as something of a rock chick. This was underlined with her 2014 project ‘Wild Heart’ and reconfirmed with her latest release ‘Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers Live In Seattle’.
Recorded at the Jazz Alley over Valentines Day weekend this is, by and large, where stadium rock meets smooth jazz and is quickly up and running with the opening track ‘Here She Comes’ that was written by Abair and Boneshakers leader Randy Jacobs. Not only that, an ultra raucous interpretation of George Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ proves to be equally off the chain and much the same might be said of ‘Bloom’ that can be found on her 2006 project ‘Life Less Ordinary’. She goes back two further years for the big ballsy ‘Flirt’ before closing out the album with ‘Cold Sweat’ which, with vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson at the helm, pays generous tribute to both BB King and James Brown.
Elsewhere, anchored by a rock solid beat, the title cut from ‘Wild Heart’ turns out to be every bit as wild as the title suggests it should be yet this is a CD that does not simply revolve around ‘in your face’ rock. In fact when Mindi turns down the tempo for the bluesy ‘Gone’ she reminds listeners of what a great singing voice she has then repeats the performance for the country tinged ‘I’ll Be Your Home’ which is also from ‘Wild Heart’. However, as the intensity quickly returns to ‘rock factor 10’, she revisits this collection twice more, first with ‘Haute Sauce’ and again for ‘I Can’t Loose’.
Later Mindi back tracks to 2010 and ‘In Hi-Fi Stereo’ for the gospel like ‘Be Beautiful’ and, although it is Sweet Pea Atkinson who monopolizes the immensely brass driven ‘Ball And Chain’, Mindi produces one of the highlights of the entire set with the earthy ‘Make It Happen’ that she co-wrote with the legendary Booker T Jones.
Don’t buy ‘Mindi Abair & The Boneshakers Live In Seattle’ if the plan is to have an intimate night in with the one you love. However, if there is a party on the agenda, this is a recording that should be at the top of everyone’s shopping list.