For a time in the mid-'90s, Private Music was issuing Yanni samplers on a regular basis, prompting the casual fan to wonder if the love-him-or-hate-him new age phenomenon had ever indeed released a real studio album before. This collection is pretty much the definitive one with 15 tracks, including his most recognizable hits: the lush, percussive "Once Upon a Time," the sweeping, global-minded "Song for Antartica," the exotic, chant-enhanced "Aria," and the impossibly melodic "A Love for Life." Most of the tunes follow a similar pattern of pretty melody over just slightly bombastic electronic percussion and orchestra, but others, like "Reflections of Passion," have a softer classical mood focused more on the acoustic piano. "The End of August" from Live at the Acropolis adds to that flavor a beautiful violin line, to which Yanni's piano serves as a harmonic accompaniment. "Marching Season" from that same release displays an aggressive musicianship that Yanni's other material rarely approaches. A lot of the anti-Yanni sentiment comes not from people who've heard the bulk of his material, but those who simply reject the idea of simply stated, pretty, top-down music as bad for some reason. It never gets too deep, but the same could be said of a lot of pop music. For those new to the Yanni experience, this disc is a good place to start. ~ Jonathan Widran

The leading icon of New Age music, Yanni became a full-blown pop-culture phenomenon in the early 1990s. With his flowing hair and dashing good looks providing the perfect image for his bold, keyboard-driven compositions, the Greek performer won the hearts of millions of fans worldwide. His popularity reached its peak in 1994 with the multi-platinum LIVE AT THE ACROPOLIS album and video.

THE BEST OF YANNI draws from the artist's mid-'80s-to-mid-'90s period, focusing on 1992's DARE TO DREAM, with six tracks from that album. Songs here include the chiming "Once Upon a Time," the sweeping "Song for Antarctica," and the soaringly operatic "Aria." The collection also features two tracks from the aforementioned live recording--"The End of August," a spare number that showcases Yanni's delicate piano playing, and "Marching Season," a jaunty, Mannheim Steamroller-like tune. For an ideal Yanni primer, look no further than DEVOTION.


  Playin' Hooky CD
  by Bob James
Our Price: $6.09 CD / $9.90 MP3
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Bob James was putting the "smooth" into "jazz" long before it was an official format, and as an elder statesman, the keyboardist continues to be one of the most consistent slow groove crowd-pleasers around. But some of the most inspired moments of his career have come from key collaborations with peers from his generation like David Sanborn and Earl Klugh. While never straying far from the melodic, pleasant sort of cool he's best known for, on Playin' Hooky, James duets on various tunes with some of the new kids on the charts, from classical guitarist Fareed Haque to trumpeter Rick Braun and the increasingly ubiquitous saxman Boney James (no relation). He even goes the full funky nine yards by using the expertise of Paul Brown, (the soul-oriented producer who helped put Boney on the map) on the most memorable track, "Mind Games. " Not surprisingly, the tunes featuring the young blood find James pushing his usual mid-tempo energy into more lively territory -- just as Kirk Whalum helped him achieve on their recent dual album. While hangin' with the youth adds punch (Braun especially impresses with his extended improvisation on "Love in Where") to James' trademark electric piano sounds, every so often -- especially on the Boney cuts -- he runs the risk of coming across as sideman to the fresh talent. Which begs the question, in the playful battle of James vs. James, who will emerge victorious? ~ Jonathan Widran

Through the years, keyboardist/arranger Bob James has come to symbolize lightweight jazz, performing music that mixes safe, funky rhythms with forgettable melodies and fairly basic improvising. The commercial formula has worked quite well sales-wise, although few of the recordings have stood the test of time very well.

This set is in a similar vein, often featuring top studio players sounding quite anonymous. Most of the tunes are James' originals, although there is also a timid exploration of a Chopin melody. Rasheeda displays a sweet and sensuous vocal on Gershwin's "Do It Again," but it is undercut by some really dumb, monotonous rhythms. Otherwise, although there are guest spots for the


  Now He Sings, Now He Sobs CD
  by Chick Corea
Our Price: $11.69 CD / $10.89 MP3
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The original LP only had five selections, but the CD contains 13, with the added eight (from the same sessions) having first been released on the double-LP Circling In. Age 26 at the time, and on the brink of gaining major recognition in the jazz world, pianist Chick Corea is featured with a very strong trio that also includes bassist Miroslav Vitous and drummer Roy Haynes. The music includes 11 of Corea's originals, including "Matrix," "Windows," and "Samba Yantra," Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica" and the standard "My One and Only Love" and is essentially advanced hard bop with an open-minded attitude toward free jazz. Listen to how part of "Steps-What Was" has hints of Corea's future composition "Spain." ~ Scott Yanow

Although Chick Corea's long career has garnered many stellar recordings, one of the best of the best is the phenomenal NOW HE SINGS, NOW HE SOBS. A trio session with bassist Miroslav Vitous and drummer Roy Haynes, this is the disc that cemented Corea's place in the jazz firmament as a pianist of incomparable skill. His percussive touch, fluid lines, and uniquely inventive approach to improvisation are all in full display.

Corea, Vitous, and Haynes greatly expand the scope of the piano trio as they pull and stretch the concept of group interaction to an entirely new plateau. From the bouncing excitement of Corea's "Matrix" to the dark blaze of the burning "Step-What Was," the trio moves as one, constantly arcing into new directions at every turn. Haynes, the elder of the three, is in particularly energetic form, providing a constant fire underneath the churning piano of Corea. Standout cuts include a mesmerizing interpretation of the classic "My One and Only Love," Corea's waltzing "Windows," and the free-form Corea/Vitous duet "Gemini."


  Knights Of Fantasy/Night Cruiser CD
  by Deodato
Our Price: $11.69 CD
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2 LPs on 1 CD: KNIGHTS OF FANTASY (1979)/NIGHT CRUISER (1980). Personnel: Deodato; John Tropea, Ray Gomez. This Wounded Bird two-fer packages together two of Deodato's transitional albums from 1979 and 1980, when he was actively pursuing chart success and radio play in the United States. Knights of Fantasy, from 1979, contains trace elements of the Brazilian producer and composer's fusion persona while melding them with disco and lite funk -- as many other jazzmen were also doing at the time, from Lonnie Liston Smith to the Crusaders. The album is a thoroughly kitschy sci-fi affair with some very fine playing and horn and string arrangements, particularly on the bass- and ARP-driven "Space Dust/Sherlock," which goes on for nearly eight minutes.

Funk grooves are allowed to find their way and wind out while a popping bassline holds down the fort even as Deodato goes ape on the synth for his wildly improvisational solo. "Shazam" is another case in point, though it contains some smoking Brazilian polyrhythms undercutting the basic disco funk groove and a slight riff cop from Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime." The weirdest thing here is one of Deodato's trademarks -- taking classical themes and weaving them together in some "futuristic" way. In this case it's Bach, as he combines the composer's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring with Andre Popp's "Love Is Blue" (a huge easy listening hit in the 1960s by Paul Mauriat & His Orchestra) and his own "Whistle Bump"!

Fine for the dancefloor or the listening room, Night Cruiser is easily Deodato's most consistent effort of that decade. It alone makes the purchase price worth forking over. Taken together, these recordings are spotty but mostly satisfying -- especially for those interested in late-'70s pop music and production. ~ Thom Jurek


  Soulful Christmas CD
  by Brian Culbertson
Our Price: $8.09 CD / $10.89 MP3
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One of smooth jazz's funkiest and most popular artists, Brian Culbertson has engaged the genre's audiences for years with a perfect mix of lively funk, jazzy piano and keyboard energy, and a softer intimate side that earned him one critic's designation as "the Barry White of smooth jazz." Faced with trying to find new ways to skin the cat of holiday songs that have been done a million times, Culby exceeds all expectations, bringing every side of his charismatic magic touch to standards you won't mind hearing just one more time.



It's incredible what happens when he enlists Jeff Lorber and Peter White to help him arrange two other classics -- Lorber helps Culby get even funkier and White brings out that intimate side. Amid the sizzle and cool are some unique and unexpected vocal treats -- Michael McDonald on the soaring, original power soul ballad "All Through the Christmas Night" and a stunning, crystalline pop classical vocal by wife Michelle Culbertson (who in 2006 released the inspirational album Be Still My Soul) on the lesser-heard "Some Children See Him."

Culbertson also creates a trippy, off-meter percussion vibe on "Little Drummer Boy" that creates a fascinating impressionistic feeling. Calling this work A Soulful Christmas is a good marketing idea, but soul is only the beginning of a collection that truly captures the many emotions of the holidays -- and the artist at his most creative. ~ Jonathan Widran


  On The One CD
  by Sammy Peralta
Our Price: $13.45 CD
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Personnel: Sammy Peralta (vocals, soprano saxophone, keyboards, programming); Pete Quintalino (guitar, timabales); Julio Virella, Chris Sholar (guitar).
Recorded at Bellepoque Music, New York, New York from October to November 1999. Includes liner notes by Sammy Peralta.
Personnel: Sammy Peralta (vocals, soprano saxophone, keyboards, percussion, programming); Chris Sholar (guitar).
Audio Mixers: Lenny White; Sammy Peralta.
Liner Note Author: Sammy Peralta.
Recording information: Bellepoque Music, New York, NY (11/1999-12/1999); Knoop Music, NJ (11/1999-12/1999).
Arranger: Sammy Peralta.
Keyboardist Sammy Peralta's first release On the One is a mixed program of Latin, funk, and ballads.

This combination should appeal to fans of smooth jazz and the lighter side of fusion. Co-produced by drummer and former member of Return to Forever Lenny White. ~ Al Campbell