Smooth Jazz Therapy: Richard Elliot

With an all-star lineup that bears testimony to the respect and admiration he has garnered from his peers over a solo career that has now spanned thirty five years the Grammy nominated sax-man Richard Elliot is back with his latest CD, ‘Authentic Life’, that was released January 29 on the Shanachie Entertainment label.

‘Authentic Life’ is quickly up and running with the ballsy and extremely jazzy ‘Snapshot’ that Elliott co-writes with Jeff Lorber and which features Lorber alongside trumpeter Rick Braun and saxophonists Dave Koz and David Mann. It is the sort of big brassy line-up that one might expect from someone who once played with the incredible Tower Of Power and gives an early hint of the riches that ‘Authentic Life’ has to offer.

Take for example the wonderfully easy grooving ‘Walk With Me’, a gentle walk on the tender side that Elliot co-composes with Rick Braun or the stunningly melodic ‘Right On Time’ which proves to be a cool collaboration with Braun and keyboard player Chris “Big Dog” Davis.

When Davis returns to lend a hand with the decidedly smoky ‘Secrets’ the result is just as good while elsewhere the title track, beautifully arranged by bass player and Nate Phillip, is a nod the to classic sound of big band. Not only that, it proves to be the perfect platform for more choice interplay between Elliot and Braun.

Talking of Braun, he combines with Elliot and Philippe Saisse to co-write ‘Move Ahead’ which, infused with a percussive backbeat courtesy of drummer Jay Williams and percussionist Lenny Castro is as refreshing as it is uplifting.

Given that ‘Authentic Life’ is predominately a collection of original music the only cover is Elliot’s take on the Gino Vannelli hit ‘Living Inside Myself’ and although the mellifluous ‘Elegant People’ is classic Elliot and then some it is the mid tempo ‘Moon Gazer’ (another Elliot – Braun – Lorber composition) that checks every smooth jazz box imaginable.

Coming full circle and concluding with another all-out funk explosion, Elliot blows the doors off with the exhilarating ‘Boogie’. It is a fitting end to an album that finds Elliot at the top of his game and which comes well recommended.