Jeff Lorber
Heard That
(Peak)
Jeff Lorber was a fresh young face during the initial crossover-jazz days of the ’70s. On Heard That, he revives that approach with electric piano, a punchy horn section reminiscent of the CTI sound, and melodic tunes that sound great, even if they don’t linger in the mind’s ear.
The veteran keyboardist displays an impressive command of the idiom. The opening “Come On Up” promises an enjoyable ride, with Lorber and co-writer, co-producer and fellow keyboardist Rex Rideout filling in the spaces between syncopations. On “Don’t Hold Back,” Lorber’s swirling Rhodes sits comfortably atop wah-wah rhythms before Rick Braun takes a lilting-if-too-brief solo on flugelhorn. “Gamma Rays” is an enticing, uptempo romp with keyboard riffs ably supported by the horn section, including Gary Meek’s delightful flute.
However, Lorber takes some missteps. “Don’t Stop” is an embarrassing refugee from urban radio. And “You Got Something” sounds like an outtake from the disco era, with its buzzy synth sounds, foursquare programmed rhythms and background vocals sweetening the mix. Still, the leader’s piano and the exacting production nearly rescue these two tracks. What’s more, when Lorber really plays – as on “The Bomb,” “Take Control,” and the title-tune closer featuring Gerald Albright’s soaring alto sax – Heard That recalls a more soulful time in contemporary jazz.
- Ross Boissoneau
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