Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
With his trademark robust, in-your-face horn textures, the Chicago-based funky smooth jazz saxman has the rare genre gift of instant recognizability. That same energy sets the vibe on his spiffy, in the pocket Narada Jazz debut , but with a unique twist. Rather than sticking with the heavy urban flavors of the discs that made him an instrumental star, he takes a more singer/songwriter-oriented approach here, drawing from modern rock inspirations like John Mayer, Maroon 5 and Five for Fighting. For this endeavor, which truly is a Spin on the way he has done business in the past, Steve Cole bought his first acoustic guitar and wrote all the songs on it. This instrument and some hypnotic piano at the beginning of the opening track "Thursday" serve the role of organic enhancement to -- rather than replacement for -- his powerful sax thrust, which is dead-on perfect on instant hits like "The Real Me." From there, he takes some cool risks, going the gentle, back porch country-rock route on "Simple Things" (with Ricky Peterson on organ), bluesy on the feisty "Spin" (which may remind listeners of some of Mindi Abair's best guitar-flavored sax cuts), and sweetly melancholic on the heartfelt "A Letter to Laura." The simmering, anthemic southern rocker "I Was Alright" blends the classic Cole horn textures with an aggressive, guitar-driven harmony line. Some say that chillout is the hybrid future of smooth jazz, and the trippy soprano ballad "Serenity" -- which draws its inspiration from Zero 7 -- shows that Cole can also relax and seduce us gently when he likes. The final track "Confounded" was inspired by Beck and breaks up from its straightforward pop/blues vibe for an all-too-short blowing section where Cole breaks loose. A little more of that improvisational fun would have made Spin, already one of the best genre releases of 2005, worth even a few hundred more.
© Jonathan Widran /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From CA$ 10.83/month
Tim Pierce, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Thompson, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Executive Producer, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - TODD SUCHERMAN, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
Tim Pierce, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Thompson, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Brian Culbertson, Composer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Executive Producer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tom Hipskind, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
Tim Pierce, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Acoustic Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Keyboards, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Executive Producer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Tom Hipskind, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
Tim Pierce, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Executive Producer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - TODD SUCHERMAN, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
Michael Thompson, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - STEVE RODBY, Upright Bass, AssociatedPerformer - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Piano, Executive Producer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - TODD SUCHERMAN, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Capitol Records LLC
Tim Pierce, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Executive Producer, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - TODD SUCHERMAN, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Executive Producer, Soprano Saxophone, Bass Programming, Drum Programming, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Executive Producer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - TODD SUCHERMAN, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
Brian Culbertson, Composer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Executive Producer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - TODD SUCHERMAN, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
Brian Culbertson, Composer - Lenny Castro, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - STEVE MILLER, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Greg Calbi, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Non Music Work, ComposerLyricist - James Auwarter, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Bauer, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Hammond B3, AssociatedPerformer - Eddie King, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Cole, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Executive Producer, Tenor Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - TODD SUCHERMAN, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rich Denhart, A&R - Luke Lykins, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Hiltebrand, Composer, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Co-Producer, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal)
(C) 2005 Narada Productions, Inc ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
Album review
With his trademark robust, in-your-face horn textures, the Chicago-based funky smooth jazz saxman has the rare genre gift of instant recognizability. That same energy sets the vibe on his spiffy, in the pocket Narada Jazz debut , but with a unique twist. Rather than sticking with the heavy urban flavors of the discs that made him an instrumental star, he takes a more singer/songwriter-oriented approach here, drawing from modern rock inspirations like John Mayer, Maroon 5 and Five for Fighting. For this endeavor, which truly is a Spin on the way he has done business in the past, Steve Cole bought his first acoustic guitar and wrote all the songs on it. This instrument and some hypnotic piano at the beginning of the opening track "Thursday" serve the role of organic enhancement to -- rather than replacement for -- his powerful sax thrust, which is dead-on perfect on instant hits like "The Real Me." From there, he takes some cool risks, going the gentle, back porch country-rock route on "Simple Things" (with Ricky Peterson on organ), bluesy on the feisty "Spin" (which may remind listeners of some of Mindi Abair's best guitar-flavored sax cuts), and sweetly melancholic on the heartfelt "A Letter to Laura." The simmering, anthemic southern rocker "I Was Alright" blends the classic Cole horn textures with an aggressive, guitar-driven harmony line. Some say that chillout is the hybrid future of smooth jazz, and the trippy soprano ballad "Serenity" -- which draws its inspiration from Zero 7 -- shows that Cole can also relax and seduce us gently when he likes. The final track "Confounded" was inspired by Beck and breaks up from its straightforward pop/blues vibe for an all-too-short blowing section where Cole breaks loose. A little more of that improvisational fun would have made Spin, already one of the best genre releases of 2005, worth even a few hundred more.
© Jonathan Widran /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:43:37
- Main artists: Steve Cole
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Narada
- Genre: Jazz
© 2005 Narada Productions, Inc. ℗ 2005 Narada Productions, Inc.
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.