Various | SMOOTH JAZZ #1S | CD

Personnel: George Benson (vocals, guitar); Chuck Loeb (guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Paul Rayner-Brown (guitar, percussion); Ulco Bed, Freddie Fox (guitar); Paul Jackson, Jr. (acoustic guitar); Tony Maiden (electric guitar); Gregg Karukas (strings, keyboards); Jeff Carruthers (strings, Moog synthesizer); Dan Higgins , Marion Meadows, Eddie Baccus, Jr. (saxophone); Kenny G (soprano saxophone); Candy Dulfer (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Eric Marienthal (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Walter Beasley (alto saxophone); Jessy J, Boney James (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); Louk Boudesteijn, William Frank "Bill" Reichenbach Jr. (trombone); Mike Broening, James K. Lloyd (piano, keyboards, programming); Brian Culbertson (piano, keyboards, drum programming); Johnny Britt, Walter Afanasieff (piano); George Duke (Fender Rhodes piano); Thomas Banks, Herman Jackson (keyboards, programming); Kasper VanKooten, Alex Acu?a, Teddy Campbell (drums); Lenny Castro, Michito S?nchez, Munyungo Jackson, Ron Powell (percussion); Al Jarreau (background vocals).
Recording information: BCM Studios; Chieftan Estates Studios; Digital Zoo, Reseda, CA; From Above Music, Youngstown, OH; Funky Joint Studio, Sherman Oaks, CA; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; La Cocina; Randyland Studios, Sharon Hill, PA; Sound Shack, Studio City, CA; Sugarhouse Studios; Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA; WEstlake Studios, Los Angeles, CA.
Arrangers: Kenny G; Brian Culbertson; Walter Afanasieff.
SMOOTH JAZZ NUMBER ONES, as its title states, contains only number one hits--but not from the Billboard chart; these tracks all placed that spot on the Radio & Records Smooth Jazz chart. It hardly matters, though, since a slew of stars play their own hits. Norman Brown's "Let's Take a Ride" is here, as are Boney James's "The Total Experience" and George Benson's very breezy "Mornin'." The vibe is light and consistent--in other words, there are no overactive funkers to upset the balance.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Pop
• Released: 04/28/2009