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Mindi Abair|Stars

Stars

Mindi Abair

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On one of 2008's most popular and dynamic urban contemporary jazz releases, the popular saxophonist made certain to live up to the lofty title of her previous outing, Life Less Ordinary. Aiming for those Stars, she expanded on the vocalizing she did on her earlier outings and wrote a batch of infectious songs that showcased her attractive vocals like never before. Five tracks -- nearly half the disc -- are adult contemporary pop songs that fit comfortably on the charts alongside John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Sara Bareilles. It may have seemed risky to push the envelope after scoring a number one album, but her instrumental hits always showed that she was a popster at heart. Helping Abair and her guitarist/producer Matthew Hager realize her creative "outside the box" approach is a choice group of stalwarts from the pop world: keyboardist Ricky Peterson, drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr., and Richard Dodd, cello player for the Foo Fighters. With the media so immersed in reflecting the ongoing despair and difficulties of life around the globe in the 2000s, Abair's ultimate goal with her five vocal tracks is to bring light to the darkness, an unapologetic, optimistic sense of hope and idealism. Case in point: the lilting folk-pop tune "Change," written with frequent collaborator Tyrone Stevens, says that change is the one thing we can count on, and also the concept that can bring us all together. On the power pop title track ballad, she looks to the "Stars" as a connective thread between lovers who are far apart in physical distance. The Elton John/Lionel Richie-influenced "On and On" reflects wistfully on the innocence of her small-town youth (in St. Petersburg, FL) and the way music has become an integral spiritual part of so many people's lives. Her heartfelt, keyboard-driven anthem "I Wonder" is her generation's twist on the concept of "Imagine," while "Here for You" is an uplifting, autobiographical old-school soul-blues ballad that chronicles her incredible years-long friendship with Hager. These are smartly balanced by instrumentals that range from light and jangling ("Smile") to edgy, bluesy, and funky ("F.L.A. Swing").

© Jonathan Widran /TiVo

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Stars

Mindi Abair

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1
Smile (Album Version)
00:04:27

Matthew Hager, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Piano, Alto Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2008 Peak Records

2
On And On (Album Version)
00:04:16

Dwight Sills, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Hager, Producer, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Dodd, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Tirpak, Trombone, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - RICKY PETERSON, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Dankanich, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Flute, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenya Hathaway, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlean Carmon, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - DeeDee Foster, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jason Steele, Strings, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2008 Peak Records

3
Out Of The Blue (Album Version)
00:04:13

Dwight Sills, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Hager, Producer, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Tambourine, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Alto Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2008 Peak Records

4
Stars (Album Version)
00:04:00

Dwight Sills, Guitar, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Hager, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Background Vocalist, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Richard Dodd, Cello, AssociatedPerformer - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Soprano Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenya Hathaway, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlean Carmon, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - DeeDee Foster, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2008 Peak Records

5
F.L.A. Swing (Album Version)
00:04:32

Matthew Hager, Producer, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Sound Effects, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Taylor , Acoustic Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Alto Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2008 Peak Records

6
I Wonder (Album Version)
00:03:44

Matthew Hager, Producer, Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Tirpak, Trombone, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - RICKY PETERSON, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Dankanich, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Keyboards, Soprano Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenya Hathaway, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlean Carmon, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - DeeDee Foster, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2008 Peak Records

7
Gingerbread Man (Album Version)
00:03:41

Dwight Sills, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Hager, Producer, Percussion, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ty Stevens, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Keyboards, Soprano Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenya Hathaway, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Charlean Carmon, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - DeeDee Foster, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2008 Peak Records

8
Change (Album Version)
00:04:22

Dwight Sills, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Hager, Producer, Electric Guitar, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Ty Stevens, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Tirpak, Trombone, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - RICKY PETERSON, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ryan Dankanich, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Percussion, Soprano Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenya Hathaway, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Shawn Davis, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Charlean Carmon, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - DeeDee Foster, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2008 Peak Records

9
Mojo (Album Version)
00:03:15

Matthew Hager, Producer, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Tambourine, Recording Engineer, Drum Programming, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Alto Saxophone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2008 Peak Records

10
Here For You (Album Version)
00:04:14

Dwight Sills, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Hager, Producer, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Recording Engineer, Recording Producer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - RICKY PETERSON, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Soprano Saxophone, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Kenya Hathaway, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Charlean Carmon, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - DeeDee Foster, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer

℗ 2008 Peak Records

11
Gonna Be Alright (Album Version)
00:03:54

Dwight Sills, Electric Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Matthew Hager, Producer, Recording Engineer, Recording Producer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Stephen Marcussen, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Abe Laboriel Jr., Drums, Tambourine, AssociatedPerformer - RICKY PETERSON, Organ, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Sykes, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brendan Dekora , Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mindi Abair, Saxophones, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Josh Blanchard, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel

℗ 2008 Peak Records

Album review

On one of 2008's most popular and dynamic urban contemporary jazz releases, the popular saxophonist made certain to live up to the lofty title of her previous outing, Life Less Ordinary. Aiming for those Stars, she expanded on the vocalizing she did on her earlier outings and wrote a batch of infectious songs that showcased her attractive vocals like never before. Five tracks -- nearly half the disc -- are adult contemporary pop songs that fit comfortably on the charts alongside John Mayer, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Sara Bareilles. It may have seemed risky to push the envelope after scoring a number one album, but her instrumental hits always showed that she was a popster at heart. Helping Abair and her guitarist/producer Matthew Hager realize her creative "outside the box" approach is a choice group of stalwarts from the pop world: keyboardist Ricky Peterson, drummer Abe Laboriel, Jr., and Richard Dodd, cello player for the Foo Fighters. With the media so immersed in reflecting the ongoing despair and difficulties of life around the globe in the 2000s, Abair's ultimate goal with her five vocal tracks is to bring light to the darkness, an unapologetic, optimistic sense of hope and idealism. Case in point: the lilting folk-pop tune "Change," written with frequent collaborator Tyrone Stevens, says that change is the one thing we can count on, and also the concept that can bring us all together. On the power pop title track ballad, she looks to the "Stars" as a connective thread between lovers who are far apart in physical distance. The Elton John/Lionel Richie-influenced "On and On" reflects wistfully on the innocence of her small-town youth (in St. Petersburg, FL) and the way music has become an integral spiritual part of so many people's lives. Her heartfelt, keyboard-driven anthem "I Wonder" is her generation's twist on the concept of "Imagine," while "Here for You" is an uplifting, autobiographical old-school soul-blues ballad that chronicles her incredible years-long friendship with Hager. These are smartly balanced by instrumentals that range from light and jangling ("Smile") to edgy, bluesy, and funky ("F.L.A. Swing").

© Jonathan Widran /TiVo

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