Reed My Lips

While most musicians wind up pigeonholed into very strict stylistic trappings throughout their career, Tom Scott has f ound challenges and success playing all formats of jazz on his solo projects and as leader of the GRP All Star Big Band (in the early 90s). It was fun following his muse in the middle of the decade, as he ventured back to his straightahead roots on 1992's Born Again, then was back to the funk on this rousing jam session. Working with old and new friends like Grover Washington, Jr., Paul Jackson, Jr., Dave Witham, David Paich, Luis Conte, Eric Gale and Robben Ford, Scott mixes his own material with some contributions from the outside. The collection explodes from the get-go on the perfectly titled "Upbeat 90's," a spirited bundle of energy which combines Scott's funky tenor bravura with a modern hip-hop groove and Gale's bouncy electric guitar. The saxman plays a passionate accompaniment and interlude behind the smooth vocals of singer/guitarist Jerry Lopez on a seductive cover of Jonathan Butler's sweet "Sarah Sarah," then gives the title track—a soaring duet between Scott and Washington's duelling tenor and soprano saxes—a brassy blues and bouncy hip-hop attitude. "Every Day and Every Minute" is possibly the most unique track Scott has ever done. It's a hypnotic moodswing of spacey animation featuring mantra like breathy vocals, Witham's vibes like melody and the saxman achieving mystery with the sounds of the bass flute.